Scarlett Johansson has issued a fervent plea to U.S. lawmakers, urging them to impose strict limitations on artificial intelligence (A.I.) following the viral spread of an unauthorized deepfake video featuring her likeness. The video, which has been making rounds on social media, portrays an A.I.-generated version of Johansson, 40, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with a hand displaying its middle finger. A Star of David occupies the center of the hand, with the name “Kanye” inscribed beneath it.

The controversial Scarlett Johansson deepfake video including Scarlett Johansson doesn’t stop there. It also showcases A.I.-generated depictions of over a dozen other Jewish celebrities, including Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Black, Mila Kunis, and Lenny Kravitz. The video concludes with an A.I. representation of Adam Sandler making an obscene gesture as the traditional Jewish folk song “Hava Nagila” plays in the background. The final frames display the messages “Enough is Enough”.

Broader societal risks posed by unregulated A.I.

Johansson’s statement underscores the broader societal risks posed by unregulated A.I. technology. t is not Johansson’s first encounter with unauthorized A.I. representations of herself. In November 2023 she threatened legal action against a company that used her A.I. likeness.

Johansson’s call to action comes amid growing concerns over A.I.’s potential to amplify hate speech and misinformation. As A.I. technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, the line between reality and fabrication continues to blur, raising ethical and legal questions about the protection of individual identities and the prevention of malicious uses of A.I.