Singaporean actress Eswari Gunasagar speaks out after…

Singaporean actress Eswari Gunasagar recently spoke out after discovering that a man had used artificial intelligence to create and circulate fake images of her. The incident, which highlighted both the dangers of AI-generated content and the prevalence of online harassment, left the actress dealing with fabricated claims regarding her personal life and safety.

What happened

On July 2, 2024, Eswari Gunasagar addressed a social media post in which a man used AI to generate a fake image of the two of them together at a beach. The image depicted Gunasagar wearing a bikini, a type of attire she had never previously shared in photos online. After being alerted to the post by followers, Gunasagar messaged the man demanding its removal and threatening police intervention. While the man did not respond to her directly, the post was initially taken down.

However, the situation escalated when the man reposted the image on his profile, falsely claiming Gunasagar was his wife. He further targeted her by alleging she was bullying him and threatening to file a personal protection order. The man also included a caption stating, "I want to rape my wife," which caused significant distress to Gunasagar and her family. In response, Gunasagar filed a police report and utilized her social media platform to urge followers to report the user. Due to a community-led reporting effort, the man’s entire profile was removed from the platform in less than three hours.

Beyond the technical misuse of AI, Gunasagar expressed shock at the public reaction to the incident. Some social media users mocked her, suggesting that she should expect such behavior as a celebrity or implying she would not object if the perpetrator were a famous actor. Gunasagar criticized this response, emphasizing that the issue reflects a broader societal lack of empathy and a willingness to excuse harmful behavior. She noted that the incident serves as a reminder that the normalization of victim-blaming is a significant concern alongside the rapid advancement of AI technology.