NEW YORK — Tumblr has announced that it is making some changes to its community guidelines, set to take effect Monday, Sept. 10, with an aim of eliminating nonconsensual sexual images.
Tumblr said the emergence of artificial intelligence “deepfakes” porn and the proliferation of nonconsensual “creepshots” spurred it to change its policy on harassment nonconsensual sexual images to: “Don’t engage in targeted abuse or harassment. Don’t engage in the unwanted sexualization or sexual harassment of others.”
It also is putting a lid on hate speech and the glorification of violence and its perpetrators.
The Oath-owned blogging platform said any post that violates these guidelines after Sept. 10 will be taken down. Posts can also be reported by opening the icon of the index finger pointing down in its mobile applications and tapping report.
“We’re redrawing the line between what’s uncomfortable and what’s unacceptable” Tumblr said.
In a news report, Motherboard found nearly 70 Tumblr blogs dedicated to sharing creepshots in May. At the time, Motherboard noted that one of the most popular creepshot Tumblrs had some 11,000 followers, with one of its posts linking to over 53,000 interactions. The images were taken by users who didn’t refrain from stalking the underaged.
As for deepfakes, Tumblr said the new policy addresses such technologies “that can be used to humiliate and threaten other people.”