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US President Joe Biden’s spokesperson has said fake, sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift that circulated online were “very alarming”.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that social media companies have “an important role to play in enforcing their own rules”, as she urged Congress to legislate on the issue.

The fake images of the pop star, believed to have been made using artificial intelligence (AI), were spread widely on social media this week, with one picture on X, being viewed 47 million times before the account was suspended.

The group Reality Defender, which detects deepfakes, said it tracked a deluge of nonconsensual pornographic material depicting Swift particularly on X, but also on Meta-owned Facebook and other social media platforms.

The researchers found several dozen different AI-generated images. The most widely shared were football-related, showing a painted or bloodied Swift that objectified her and in some cases inflicted violent harm on the deepfake version of her.

Ms Jean-Pierre said: “We’re going to do what we can to deal with this issue.

Taylor Swift, right, and Brittany Mahomes react during the third quarter of an NFL AFC division playoff football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Taylor Swift, right, supporting her boyfriend Travis Kelce at a Kansas City Chiefs game last week Pic: AP

“So while social media companies make their own independent decisions about content management, we believe they have an important role to play in enforcing their own rules to prevent the spread of misinformation, and non-consensual, intimate imagery of real people.”

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The spokesperson also added that lax enforcement against false images too often disproportionately affects women.

Researchers have said the number of explicit deepfakes has increased in recent years, as the technology used to produce such images has become more accessible and easier to use.

Read more:
Sharing explicit ‘deepfakes’ without consent to be a crime
Man charged with harassment and stalking near Swift’s home
Scarlett Johansson is latest victim of alleged deepfake advert

In 2019, a report released by the AI firm DeepTrace Labs found that explicit images were overwhelmingly weaponised against women.

Most of the victims were Hollywood actors and South Korean K-pop singers, the report said.

X wrote in a post on the site on Friday that they are “actively removing all identified images and taking appropriate actions against the accounts responsible for posting them.

“We’re closely monitoring the situation to ensure that any further violations are immediately addressed, and the content is removed.”

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Is AI an existential threat?

Meanwhile, Meta said in a statement that it strongly condemns “the content that has appeared across different internet services” and has worked to remove it.

“We continue to monitor our platforms for this violating content and will take appropriate action as needed,” the company said.

Taylor Swift’s representatives did not respond to a Sky News request for comment.

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BAFTA TV Awards 2024: Top Boy, Happy Valley and The Sixth Commandment among the big winners – as The Crown misses out

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BAFTA TV Awards 2024: Top Boy, Happy Valley and The Sixth Commandment among the big winners - as The Crown misses out

Top Boy, Happy Valley and The Sixth Commandment are the big winners at this year’s BAFTA TV Awards, taking home two prizes apiece.

The final season of the critically acclaimed Netflix series Top Boy was named best drama, with star Jasmine Jobson also named best supporting actress for her portrayal of Jaq Lawrence.

Happy Valley picked up the award for most memorable moment, the only prize voted for by the public, while star Sarah Lancashire was named best actress once again for her portrayal of no-nonsense police sergeant Catherine Cawood – after first winning the prize for the role in 2017.

The Sixth Commandment picked up the awards for best limited drama and best actor for its star, Timothy Spall.

Despite leading the nominations race with eight nods in total, royal drama The Crown left empty-handed.

Jasmine Jobson in the press room after winning the Best Supporting Actress award for Top Boy at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson with her BAFTA. Pic: PA

‘You changed my life’

Crime drama Top Boy follows the lives of Sully (Kane “Kano” Robinson) and Dushane (Ashley Walters) and deals with themes of crime, drugs and violence on the Summerhouse estate in Hackney, east London.

Picking up the best drama award ahead of Happy Valley, Slow Horses and The Gold, producer Charles Steel paid tribute to stars Walters and Robinson.

Jobson also took the chance to tell the BAFTAs audience: “I just want to say I am the woman who has been standing in a group full of men, you have shown me what it is to be strong and independent and how important it is to stand out in a crowd full of people where it’s easy to be invisible.

“Netflix, Top Boy, you changed my life.”

Read more on the TV BAFTAs:
The full list of winners
All the best red carpet looks
The awards as they happened

Yorkshire-based crime drama Happy Valley was another show that came to an end in 2023, bringing to a close the story of Sgt Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton), the criminal who destroyed her family.

Accepting the award for best actress, Lancashire said it was an honour to win and praised Sally Wainwright, the writer and creator of the show.

“I would like to acknowledge my fellow nominees and their tremendous work,” she said. “Sally Wainwright, I shall forever be grateful to you for this opportunity.

“I feel very, very privileged to have been surrounded by these brilliant actors and I thank each and every one of you.”

The series also won the memorable moment award for her character’s explosive final kitchen showdown with Royce, beating fellow shortlisted moments including David Beckham teasing wife Victoria about her “working class” roots in the Beckham documentary, and Logan Roy’s death in Succession.

Timothy Spall in the press room after winning the Leading Actor award for The Sixth Commandment at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Timothy Spall has won his first BAFTA TV Award. Pic: PA

Baroness Floella Benjamin in the press room after being presented with the BAFTA Fellowship award at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Baroness Floella Benjamin was presented with the BAFTA Fellowship award. Pic: PA

‘Look it up on IMDB’

Picking up the leading actor award for The Sixth Commandment, a true crime drama exploring the murders of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin in Buckinghamshire in 2014 and 2017, as well as the subsequent investigation and trial, veteran British star Timothy Spall joked: “Look it all up on IMDB and you will see who was involved because to each and every soul of them, they are brilliant.”

He continued: “Acting is a stupid thing, it’s a soppy old thing, standing up pretending to be someone and p*ssing around in costume. Sixty-seven and you think ‘am I still doing this?’

“But sometimes you get the chance to play people that have had a terrible thing happen to them and all they wanted was love, and it’s a beautiful thing to be able to tell a story about that. It’s about crimes but it’s also about love.”

Looking at his award, he added: “I’ve always wanted one of these. I’m just so pleased to be amongst you lot.”

Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett with their comedy entertainment award for Rob & Romesh Vs.. at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Hosts Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett also secured a win, for Sky show Rob & Romesh Vs.. Pic: PA

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after winning the Best Entertainment award for Strictly Come Dancing. Pic: PA
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Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman celebrate for Strictly Come Dancing. Pic: PA

Elsewhere, Matthew Macfadyen won in the supporting actor category for his performance in the final series of Succession, the conclusion of the drama about the struggle for power in a media dynasty, while Strictly Come Dancing won the best entertainment prize in its 20th year on the air.

Tess Daly, who co-hosts with Claudia Winkleman, described the win as “the best birthday present”.

Squid Game: The Challenge was named best reality TV series, while last year’s Eurovision Song Contest won the award for live event coverage.

And there was a surprise in the international category, when French series Class Act beat huge shows including The Bear and Succession.

Mawaan Rizwan in the press room after winning the Male Performance in a Comedy award for Juice at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Juice star Mawaan Rizwan and Black Ops star Gbemisola Ikumelo (pictured below) were the winners in the comedy performance categories. Pic: PA

Gbemisola Ikumelo in the press room after winning the Female Performance in a Comedy award for Black Ops at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire

Comedy prizes include the hosts

In the comedy categories, Mawaan Rizwan won the award for best male performance for his role in Juice, about a young gay man who desperately wants to be the centre of attention as his family continuously steals his thunder, while Gbemisola Ikumelo won the female performance award for Black Ops.

Accepting his award, Rizwan said: “Thank you to my therapist – we had a conversation last week where we said I had to stop relying on external forms of validation.”

There was even an award for the ceremony hosts, comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, who took home the comedy entertainment prize for Sky show Rob And Romesh Vs.

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Former Play School children’s presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin was presented with BAFTA’s highest honour, the Fellowship, by newsreader Clive Myrie, while daytime TV queen Lorraine Kelly was also honoured with a special prize, presented by Succession’s Brian Cox.

“Don’t pull up the ladder” to those from working-class backgrounds, Kelly told the crowd as she accepted her prize.

The ceremony also paid tribute to the stars of TV we have said goodbye to in the past year, including talk show host Sir Michael Parkinson, Lord Of The Rings actor Bernard Hill, newsreader George Alagiah, Hairy Biker Dave Myers, film and TV director Roy Battersby and Friends star Matthew Perry.

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Eurovision: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praises Eden Golan as Irish singer Bambie Thug criticises organisers and broadcaster

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Eurovision: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praises Eden Golan as Irish singer Bambie Thug criticises organisers and broadcaster

Israel’s prime minister has paid tribute to the country’s Eurovision performer – as Ireland’s contestant continues to criticise organisers and an Israeli broadcaster.

Switzerland won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in a competition fraught with last-minute changes, backstage incidents and boos for the boss.

Israel’s Eden Golan was clapped, cheered, booed and jeered when she took to the stage to perform her song Hurricane at the Malmo Arena in Sweden.

Despite only scoring 52 points from jury votes, the 20-year-old finished in fifth place after receiving an audience score of 323 points – including 12 points from the UK’s public vote.

Ms Golan told Sky News she was “over the moon” with the result and had ignored all of the controversy surrounding her performance.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Ms Golan and said she had brought “honour” to the country.

He said: “They booed you and we shouted ‘douze points’.

“I saw that you received almost the highest number of votes from the public and this is the most important thing, not from the judges but from the public, and you held Israel’s head up high in Europe.

“You have brought immense pride to the state of Israel and the people of Israel. Congratulations.”

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Israel’s participation left the event struggling to maintain its apolitical stance

Ms Golan responded that she was “proud to have the privilege” of representing Israel.

She added: “We accomplished the impossible and it was a great privilege.

“I felt our country’s love and everyone’s support, and it was unforgettable.”

Pic: Reuters
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Ireland’s Bambie Thug performing Doomsday Blue. Pic: Reuters/Leonhard Foeger

Meanwhile, Bambie Thug has accused the contest’s organisers of not supporting Ireland over a row with Israel.

The “ouji pop” star secured a sixth place finish with their song Doomsday Blue in Ireland’s first grand final of the music event since 2018.

Read more:
Five moments you might have missed
The controversy and chaos

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The performer, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, has been outspoken about their pro-Palestinian views and has accused Israeli broadcaster Kan of a rule break.

They said they have been waiting to hear back from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about what action would be taken against Israel – in hope that “next year they won’t be able to compete”.

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Bambie Thug rounded off their performance saying ‘love will always triumph hate’

Bambie Thug – who missed a dress rehearsal amid the row – accused the EBU of allowing Ireland to be “scapegoats”.

They said: “They waited to the last minute, we still haven’t gotten statement back to us, allowed us to be scapegoats, allowed us to be the spokesperson for standing up for ourselves.

“And yeah, the broadcaster has disobeyed the rules and I hope next year they won’t be able to compete because of that.”

Bambie Thug also spoke of pressure and stress behind the scenes, but said they were proud of Switzerland’s non-binary performer Nemo for winning, adding: “I just want to say we are what Eurovision is. The EBU is not what the Eurovision is.

“F*** the EBU, I don’t even care anymore. F*** them.”

The EBU has been contacted for comment.

Pic: AP
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The UK’s Olly Alexander performing Dizzy. Pic: AP/Martin Meissner

The UK’s Olly Alexander has also broken his silence after placing 18th in the competition with his song Dizzy.

Although the Years & Years singer received 46 points from the jury, he was awarded zero points in the public vote.

On Instagram on Sunday, he shared a post from the official Eurovision account announcing Switzerland as the winner, adding: “Nemo! You did it! I’m so, so proud of you.

“It’s been such an honour to be on this journey with you. You broke the code!”

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BAFTA TV Awards red carpet 2024: Nominees and celeb VIPs arrive in style ahead of ceremony

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BAFTA TV Awards red carpet 2024: Nominees and celeb VIPs arrive in style ahead of ceremony

This year’s BAFTA TV Awards ceremony is under way, with stars hitting the red carpet ahead of the ceremony this afternoon.

Happy Valley, The Gold, Slow Horses and Top Boy are the four shows battling it out to be named best drama, while stars including Brian Cox, Sarah Lancashire, Kane “Kano” Robinson, Dominic West, Sharon Horgan, Helena Bonham Carter, Bella Ramsey and Steve Coogan are among the big names in the running for acting awards.

The ceremony will be hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan and takes place at London’s Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank this afternoon, before being broadcast this evening.

Here are the pictures from the red carpet as they come in.

Layton Williams attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Actor and singer Layton Williams, star of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Bad Education

Michelle Visage and Tom Allen attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Pic: Ian West/PA
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US singer and TV personality Michelle Visage gets some love from British comedian Tom Allen

Jeff Goldblum attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum is among the VIPs

Grace Keeling, aka GK Barry, attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. Pic: PA/Ian West
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Social media and TV star Grace Keeling, aka GK Barry, shared a video with followers on her way to the show (she’s wearing Versace, FYI)

Maura Higgins attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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TV presenter Maura Higgins is among a number of former Love Island stars attending the ceremony….

Love Island star Amy Hart at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: PA/Ian West
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Amy Hart, who appeared in series five of the hit reality show alongside Maura, is also on the guest list

Laura Anderson attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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As is Laura Anderson (series four)

Olivia Bowen at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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And Olivia Bowen (series two)

Ashley James at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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TV presenter and model Ashley James

Michelle Ackerley attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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TV presenter and journalist Michelle Ackerley

Laura Whitmore at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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TV and radio presenter Laura Whitmore

Freddie Fox attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Actor Freddie Fox

Bonnie Langford attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Actress and dancer Bonnie Langford

David Harewood attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Actor David Harewood

Jack Rooke attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Comedian and writer Jack Rooke

Clara Amfo attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Broadcaster Clara Amfo

Annabel Scholey attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture date: Sunday May 12, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Actress Annabel Scholey

Jorgie Porter attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter

Vicky Pattison and Pete Wicks attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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TV personalities and podcasters Vicky Pattison and Pete Wicks

Nikki Lilly attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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YouTuber and author Nikki Lilly

Katie Piper attending the BAFTA TV Awards 2024. Pic: Ian West/PA
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Activist and model Katie Piper

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