The top headlines from last week centered on the massive changes in the US and Japan's policies, with the US DEFIANCE Act now looking to combat AI-generated porn of famed celebrities. This is in response to Taylor Swift's latest explicit images which shocked the world, having no consent from the artist.
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Moreover, there is the latest Japanese Visa that will allow remote workers, a.k.a. Digital Nomads, to live in the country and explore it for around six months of stay. Lastly, the controversial subway robot that New York has launched to surveil its passengers was recently removed from service due to massive problems it encountered.
US DEFIANCE Act to Answer Taylor Swift, AI Porn
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A new bipartisan bill was recently established to cover the massive spread of AI-generated porn of renowned individuals and public personalities, sparked by the controversy faced by Taylor Swift. The DEFIANCE (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits) Act of 2024 looks to combat the creation and spread of these types of media to protect the victims.
Through this bill, those who will create these types of content are subject to face legal action from their victims which came shortly after AI-made edits of Swift spread online.
Moreover, it aims to address the deepfakes and misleading content online, with AI's abundance making it possible to create unimaginable things and share them with the world. It will target non-consensual edits and depict lewd media content.
Five months after New York launched the K-5 Robot, it is now shutting down the program and retiring the surveillance machine on its subway station. Designated on New York's Times Square station, the K-5 strolls around on its wheels to record the happenings and potential crimes, and it also presents a help button to assist passengers with their needs.
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However, the bot faced hardships and challenges in its test run, particularly as it required frequent charging and could not navigate through stairs. According to AFP, it is now stored in a lot instead of operating in the station.
Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, went as far as to call it a "trash can on wheels," also noting that its wheels are no longer working as well.
Japan Visa: Allow Remote Workers to Stay Long
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Japan's Immigration Service Agency launched a new Visa Program that will help digital nomads secure a permit to stay in the country for longer times while being able to explore the country and enjoy what it features. Through the program, those who are working remotely may do so in the Land of the Rising Sun, and the visa entails as much as six months of stay in the country.
Nikkei Asia claimed that the agency's goal is to boost tourism in the country and welcome skilled professionals from other parts of the world.
The program will start by the end of March, with this unique offer catering to IT engineers and remote workers who earn a total of 10 million yen ($68,000) per year.
