Sydney Sweeney has become the latest victim of X’s (formerly Twitter) controversial content moderation policies, sparking concerns about the platform’s approach to explicit material. The situation took a troubling turn in March 2024 when 404 Media revealed that hackers were exploiting AI-generated images and nude scenes from Sweeney’s roles in “Euphoria” and “The Voyeurs” to trick users into downloading malware. These malicious links often redirected users to adware sites like thaudray.com and waufooke.com, further endangering user safety.

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Experts are increasingly alarmed by X’s June 2024 decision, under CEO Elon Musk, to permit “consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior” on the platform. Dr. Claire McGlynn, a professor at Durham Law School, expressed grave concerns, stating, “X is a breeding ground for non-consensual and abusive content, and this policy change will only exacerbate the problem. The platform is blatantly challenging regulators and governments with its disregard for restrictions on AI technology and the production of abusive content.”

X’s inadequate moderation of explicit content has led to a rise in sexually suggestive and sometimes explicit posts featuring Sweeney, reducing her to a target of voyeuristic and pornographic exploitation. Dr. McGlynn further commented, “While X claims to champion free speech, its actions have the opposite effect. Online abuse, particularly against women and girls, severely restricts their freedom of expression.”

The exploitation of Sydney Sweeney’s image on X underscores the broader issues of misogyny and abuse in online spaces. The platform’s current policies have been criticized for fostering an environment where digital violence and exploitation thrive, disproportionately affecting women and young girls.