#law of unintended consequences

[worstjourney]

Scott, 18 Mar 1912: "My right foot has gone, nearly all the toes ... Like an ass I mixed a small spoonful of curry powder with my melted pemmican – it gave me violent indigestion. I lay awake and in pain all night; woke and felt done on the march; foot went and I didn’t know it."

[intelligentchristianlady]

Dear Governor, If I were the Chinese Communist Party, I would simply form a LLC with an innocuous name and have the corporation purchase land in Florida.

[uclamikefranks]

Fascinating side effect of a waste food dump that was forgotten, in Costa Rica. Don't try this at home.

[tilbageidanmark]

A question from the inventor of the modern electrical bulb

[mx-bluesky]

huh I haven’t done a corbin doodle in a while. I was definitely due. behold anthony worm as he begins the sickest skateboardless trick of all time

[alohapromisesforever]

Science Fiction and Frankenstein's Creature

Science Fiction and Frankenstein's Creatureby Michael DoyleThough literary snobs can find it less than delectableScience Fiction has grown up as quiet respectableSnobbery has ever been fashionable even at HalloweenStill science fiction's limitations certainly don't meanThat there is nothing really scary or horrific to sayWhen it comes to the darkness that is coming our wayIt's a different…

[antiprohibit]

Is the Increasing Potency of Opiods a Consequence of the Drug War?

The DEA is one of the most heavily armed agencies in the United States The opioid crisis, marked by a surge in the potency and availability of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, underscores the catastrophic failures of the War on Drugs. Initiated over half a century ago with the aim of eradicating drug use through prohibition and punitive measures, this campaign has not only failed to curb drug…

[platinum-iridium]

they're really on bullshit with these l&o verdicts since the reboot. aint no way price deserved to win when the lynchpin of his case was the testimony of a child porn dude who got full immunity for the testimony. like it just aint nooooo way. case shoulda been lost cause that was a dumb gamble. would've made for a better episode too. having to face the fact that they are gambling with people's lives. ironic that the ep was called unintended consequences cause they never seem to face any. would've made more sense in the context of a loss

[theplotmage]

Principles and Laws of Magic for Fantasy Writers

Fundamental Laws

1. Law of Conservation of Magic- Magic cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

3. Law of Equivalent Exchange- To gain something, an equal value must be given.

5. Law of Magical Exhaustion- Using magic drains the user’s energy or life force.

Interaction and Interference

4. Law of Magical Interference- Magic can interfere with other magical effects.

6. Law of Magical Contamination- Magic can have unintended side effects.

8. Law of Magical Inertia- Magical effects continue until stopped by an equal or greater force.

Resonance and Conditions

7. Law of Magical Resonance- Magic resonates with certain materials, places, or times.

9. Law of Magical Secrecy- Magic must be kept secret from the non-magical world.

11. Law of Magical Hierarchy- Different types of magic have different levels of power and difficulty.

Balance and Consequences

10. Law of Magical Balance- Every positive magical effect has a negative consequence.

12. Law of Magical Limitation- Magic has limits and cannot solve every problem.

14. Law of Magical Rebound- Misused magic can backfire on the user.

Special Conditions

13. Law of Magical Conduits- Certain objects or beings can channel magic more effectively.

15. Law of Magical Cycles- Magic may be stronger or weaker depending on cycles (e.g., lunar phases).

17. Law of Magical Awareness- Some beings are more attuned to magic and can sense its presence.

Ethical and Moral Laws

16. Law of Magical Ethics- Magic should be used responsibly and ethically.

18. Law of Magical Consent- Magic should not be used on others without their consent.

20. Law of Magical Oaths- Magical promises or oaths are binding and have severe consequences if broken.

Advanced and Rare Laws

19. Law of Magical Evolution- Magic can evolve and change over time.

20. Law of Magical Singularities- Unique, one-of-a-kind magical phenomena exist and are unpredictable.

Unique and Imaginative Magical Laws

- Law of Temporal Magic- Magic can manipulate time, but with severe consequences. Altering the past can create paradoxes, and using time magic ages the caster rapidly.

- Law of Emotional Resonance- Magic is amplified or diminished by the caster’s emotions. Strong emotions like love or anger can make spells more powerful but harder to control.

- Law of Elemental Harmony- Magic is tied to natural elements (fire, water, earth, air). Using one element excessively can disrupt the balance and cause natural disasters.

- Law of Dream Magic- Magic can be accessed through dreams. Dreamwalkers can enter others’ dreams, but they risk getting trapped in the dream world.

- Law of Ancestral Magic- Magic is inherited through bloodlines. The strength and type of magic depend on the caster’s ancestry, and ancient family feuds can influence magical abilities.

- Law of Symbiotic Magic- Magic requires a symbiotic relationship with magical creatures. The caster and creature share power, but harming one affects the other.

- Law of Forgotten Magic- Ancient spells and rituals are lost to time. Discovering and using forgotten magic can yield great power but also unknown dangers.

- Law of Magical Echoes- Spells leave behind echoes that can be sensed or traced. Powerful spells create stronger echoes that linger longer.

- Law of Arcane Geometry- Magic follows geometric patterns. Spells must be cast within specific shapes or alignments to work correctly.

- Law of Celestial Magic- Magic is influenced by celestial bodies. Spells are stronger during certain astronomical events like eclipses or planetary alignments.

- Law of Sentient Magic- Magic has a will of its own. It can choose to aid or hinder the caster based on its own mysterious motives.

- Law of Shadow Magic- Magic can manipulate shadows and darkness. Shadowcasters can travel through shadows but are vulnerable to light.

- Law of Sympathetic Magic- Magic works through connections. A spell cast on a representation of a person (like a doll or portrait) affects the actual person.

- Law of Magical Artifacts- Certain objects hold immense magical power. These artifacts can only be used by those deemed worthy or who possess specific traits.

- Law of Arcane Paradoxes- Some spells create paradoxes that defy logic. These paradoxes can have unpredictable and often dangerous outcomes.

- Law of Elemental Fusion- Combining different elemental magics creates new, hybrid spells with unique properties and effects.

- Law of Ethereal Magic- Magic can interact with the spirit world. Ethereal mages can communicate with spirits, but prolonged contact can blur the line between life and death.

- Law of Arcane Symbiosis- Magic can bond with technology, creating magical machines or enchanted devices with extraordinary capabilities.

- Law of Dimensional Magic- Magic can open portals to other dimensions. Dimensional travelers can explore alternate realities but risk getting lost or encountering hostile beings.

- Law of Arcane Sacrifice- Powerful spells require a sacrifice, such as a cherished memory, a personal item, or even a part of the caster’s soul.

[faeriekit]

I feel like you’ll appreciate this flavor of feral brain rot as a true delicacy.

Ghostly Courting 101

1.) When you have someone you like, you politely sneak into their haunt and leave a gift that hints at your identity. If they’re interested, they’ll start hunting for you. If not, it’ll be removed without the other party feeling any societal pressure.

2.) For ghosts who died a violent or wrongful death, one of the most meaningful things you can do is avenge them. Attack their murderer, haunt their negligent doctor, etc. It’s not guaranteed to win their affection, but it’s a hell of a display.

Now, per the laws of unintended consequences, Danny finds Red Hood rearranging his freezer.

It’s 3:00 AM. He just wanted some water. Why is Gotham’s favorite son trying to leave him a fuck off huge casserole?

“Are you trying to propose or something?” Danny asks the liminal.

“Maybe???”

“Ghost weird or fruitloop weird?” Danny snatches his boo-berry ice cream and starts digging for a spoon.

Red Hood takes off his helmet to make sure Danny can see the Eyebrow of Judgment.

“Fruitloop then,” he says between bites. “We haven’t even sparred, and I sure as shit didn’t avenge you or anything.”

Oh. Oh no.

“Hood, why are you blushing?”

He couldn’t make out much from the outraged sputtering, but Danny nearly shat his fucking core out when it clicked.

“Is this about Joker???”

Danny was gonna take the stuttering as a yes.

Cool, cool, cool. He was calm. He was so fucking normal, it was fine, it was fine, it was—

Ancients take him, Danny beat the shit out of this guy’s murderer or something. He basically did a fucking flash mob proposal!

“Why the fuck am I even here?!” Red Hood screamed.

And the other guy’s fucking clueless!

I see, I see.

1: Which casserole. This is important. What casserole could the hindbrain of Jason Peter Todd's ghost instincts think is marriage material?? Is this like a comfort food can-of-cream-of-mushroom based casserole dish or like one of those newfangled sushi bake type things?? What did Jason whip out to prove he's marriage material??

2: What does JASON think is going on?? Did he hunt Danny down?? Did he just wake up in a stranger's apartment with a casserole in his hand?? Did he go to the grocery store with a list in mind or did he get home and realize he (for some reason) had every ingredient to make tuna casserole??

3: Wait. So does this mean that Jason thinks that casseroles are a good enough hint at his identity??? Does some part of Jason think that his most essential and core part of his identity is his tendency towards caretaking?? YO—

4: It's in a vintage pyrex. Look me in the eyes. This is not just Pyrex it's gotta be the old style pyrex that doesn't shatter in the oven without a pan underneath it. I am a connoisseur of white people culture and this is deeply important to me. It could even be one of the patterned ones. This is part of the gesture.

5: Danny is emotionally moved and it sucks considering that this was a complete accident

6: Jason is emotionally moved and has no idea what the fuck is going on. He wakes up at his safehouse one morning with bridal magazines in his hands which he apparently bought himself?? He's going insane. Is he cursed?? Did that twink who kicked the Joker's ass curse him??????? Curse him into...matrimony???????????????????

[intelligentchristianlady]

So little Martha won't be allowed to mention her two daddies until she graduates from high school? How does the teacher enforce that? And how does enforcing it affect Martha?

[blughxreader]

The thing is, in the yandere-purge-world, there would probably be some advocates for reducing darlings wages in order to increase the wages of yanderes. The whole system depends on the classification of a yandere and their darling, like, how is it recognized?

If someone has to register as a yandere and register their darling before they get the purge letter, then maybe there should be some immediate procedures, such as the darling getting fired? But that would complicate companies, so it would become a communism vs. Capitalism debate, right?

The response would be governments placing darlings as ‘unable to work’, and yanderes would climb the banner, since the majority of the government would be yandere.

It would result in systematic oppression of darlings, so the darlings would be unable to work, and even if they retained their allowance to vote, the yanderes might not even let them outside.

Really, it’s just like the 1940s for the men vs. Women thing.

Oo this ask begs an important question—since suppression in this society is based off of yandere/darling/and unchosen & not-yet-crazy people, how heavily do personalities play a role in job opportunities/first impressions/government assistance/etc?

From this point on, i will call the third group of people Normals (ie the group of unregistered yanderes and people who haven’t been chosen as a darling by a yandere. All darlings and yanderes start out as Normals.)

In the Ye Old Era, circa 1800s and earlier, there was a zero-nuance understanding of Darlings and Yanderes, in the same way that men subjugated women.

Yanderes killed and pillaged to get what they want, and Everyone Else either murdered them back or were forced into submission. I doubt there was a registry of Yans and Darlings, because you were either someone’s bitch or you weren’t.

As the world globalized, societies modernized, technology developed, capitalism spread… Yanderes had to reel it in or face capital punishment. It was no longer acceptable to butcher your neighbor for their daughter/son.

Kind of like prohibition, there was a time in society where all murder, kidnapping, etc was illegal. This had unintended, bloody consequences as homicide and suicide actually increased.

Thus the Purge was born.

To answer your questions, I don’t think a darling would face any repercussions from being claimed by a yandere. The yandere has to actually kidnap them during the Purge before Darling loses any rights. Because up until Darling received their claim notice, they were Normal.

I bet there’s also laws to protect against discrimination based off class and personality type. Businesses are not allowed to discriminate, however I bet they’re also notified that a Darling has received a claim notice just in case they go missing after the Purge lol.

Systematic suppression runs deep. There’s no way around it. All the most powerful families and businesses are headed by yanderes. They own the economy, write the laws, etc.

Fortunately there are yanderes sympathetic to darlings, so eventually Darlings got their rights.

However!!! Imaging you’ve been held captive for a decade. What sort of job prospects do you have? Why would anyone want you when your degree is stale and you have insane therapy requirements.

What if the government gave willing Darlings to darling-less yanderes? Like, you’re incapable of integrating into the real world after being imprisoned, and there’s plenty of lonely yanderes out there, so why not pair up?

It could be a 6-month rehabilitation contract, to a lifelong “marriage.”

[misctf]

Unintended Consequences

Diego sighed deeply. All his life, he thought he was happy with his life. Sure he wasn’t muscular or popular, but he enjoyed his more lowkey life. But when he got to college and started struggling in his classes and failing to find a boyfriend, Diego was starting to struggle. But that’s when he met his tutor, Luna, who seemed to take a liking to the lanky young man. She was patient with him, explaining concepts that he was struggling with. And as time went on, he felt closer to her- close enough to open up about his loneliness and struggles. She encouraged him to tell her more, and when he told her that sometimes he wished he could just have the typical college experience, she beamed with excitement. She gave him a coin, one that she said would help his dreams come true.

And so Diego, flipping the coin with one hand and jerking off with the other, looked down at his hairy chest and abdomen, not muscle in sight and sighed. What did he have to lose? He held the coin tightly and imagined his ideal college experience. And suddenly he felt incredibly light, like he was being pulled through time and space. He could barely conceive of all the changes going on around him. And at first, he felt what he could only describe as a resistance- like something was trying to push him away. But Diego wasn’t going to give up. He could feel himself breaking down the resistance, his own desires forcing their way through. He felt his cock harden even more, his arms and legs grow warm and more powerful. And suddenly he was in a different room, lying in bed and still jerking himself off. But this time, in a very different body. A body with nicely sculpted pecs and arms, white skin with a perfect treasure trail, and a much large cock. Diego ran over to the mirror, slightly off balance and not used to his larger frame. He smirked and felt himself swoon at the hot guy he had become.

The rest of the night was the best night of Diego’s life. Out on the town, Diego got to do all the things he dreamed of. Grinding up against guys in the club, smoking some weed with some of his new bros, and dancing until he was covered in sweat- discarding his shirt and flaunting his body. The night only seemed to get better when he felt a tap on his shoulder and one of the sexiest guys Diego had ever seen asked him if he wanted to go back to his place, to which Diego was more than happy to agree to. But as he sucked the dick of this man, Diego didn’t seem to register that his skin had darkened just a tad, while small black hairs rose out from his chest and face...

The next morning, while Diego slept peacefully in his own apartment, Matt woke up with a raging headache, barely remembering the events of the previous night, but realizing he was late to class. He got ready quickly, not even recognizing his slightly darker skin and the small amount of chest and facial hair that now adorned his previously clean-shaven body. But what he did notice was the fogginess that newly settled over his brain. He knew he had several upcoming exams that he needed to pass if he wanted to get into law school. And he had to tutor some of the younger students today. Matt went to his classes, but to his confusion, could barely understand what the professors were talking about at times. On several occasions he answered easy questions wrong, causing him to blush with embarrassment. He could feel Luna’s gaze on him and how much she was enjoying this- they had been rivals since day one. But most of his attention ultimately focused on the jock sitting in the corner of the room. His big muscles on display in his sleeveless top. For whatever reason, Matt couldn’t help but stare at him. And as he did, he felt a strange warmth in his ass- a neediness that he never felt before. The jock must’ve noticed him staring, because he smirked and gave Matt a nod, which broke Matt from his leud daydreaming. When class ended, he scurried home- trying to rationalize what was happening.

The next couple of days proved difficult for both Matt and Diego. While Matt dealt with worsening grades and struggling to concentrate, Diego could only stare at the coin, wondering if he should try again. And so, on another Friday night, Diego could be found jerking off and making his wish. Again, he felt himself tumble through space and time, but this time, he stood in front of a bewildered Matt, who was sitting at his desk, trying to study. Matt shouted in fear, and suddenly Diego flew straight into Matt, feeling a similar but albeit weakened resistance compared to prior. When the ordeal was over, Diego was back in control, although he wasn’t in the mood to party anymore. Whatever was happening, he needed to get to the bottom of it. At first Diego thought that he was getting his dream body, not possessing some random college dude. As he read through Matt’s stuff, he realized that he was a fellow student, although a year ahead of him. As Diego tried to learn more about Matt, he failed to realize Matt’s eyes darken to a deep brown, while his skin similarly took on more of a brown hue. Even the man’s muscles started to thin out a bit, while his chest hair became darker and curlier. But before Diego could register this, he felt himself leave the young man’s body and return to his own, falling asleep nearly immediately.

The next few days were even more difficult than the last. Diego had locked away the coin and confronted Luna, who explained that Matt was a rival and that she hoped that some of Diego would “rub off” on him. Diego felt betrayed and horrified at first, but Luna just reassured him that she had given him a taste of the life he wanted. So Diego would do his best to resist any further temptation. But unbeknownst to Diego, he had certainly rubbed off on Matt. The formerly straight and intelligent college student found himself partying more often than going to classes, finding guys that would be willing to let him suck them off. Matt struggled with the duality- he could still feel a part of him want to excel academically, but he couldn’t resist what his altered body demanded of him. And so when he saw Diego walking back to his dorm one afternoon, Matt couldn’t help but run up to him.

“Please, you need to do whatever the fuck you’ve been doing!” Matt begged, shifting between English and Spanish- another trait that he picked up from Diego, “I can’t stand it anymore, please!”

Diego was shocked, “But... but this is wrong. I shouldn’t have...”

“Fuck that! I need this.” Matt moaned.

And Diego was swayed. Despite some hesitation, he and Matt went back to Diego’s dorm where he fetched the coin. As he stared at it, he felt Matt remove his pants. The changed young man looked up at Diego with a grin, before wrapping his lips around his cock. Diego moaned and felt the heat of the coin in his hand. But this time, he didn’t feel himself hurdle through space and time. Instead, as Matt continued to suck him off, Matt actively changed. His hair became jet black and styled, while his facial hair grew out and darkened. The muscle in Matt’s body atrophied slightly more, with the former jock taking on a skinnier frame. His skin darkened even more, now mimicking Diego’s and his Mexican heritage. His lips thickened and his eyes took on a more vacant look as his intelligence was drained. Matt- or Mateo now- continued to suck Diego vigorously until the other man came. He swallowed every drop and looked up at Diego with great appreciation.

Weeks had passed since then, and Diego tried his best to keep in touch with Mateo, partly out of guilt and partly in hopes that he’d get another BJ. At times, he and Mateo would go out and party, with Mateo helping break Diego out of his shell some more. And since Mateo had dropped out of school, he had plenty of time for that. In fact, he had invited Diego to his first show at the local gay strip club. Sure it wasn’t how he expected his life to go, but to Mateo, he couldn’t imagine it any other way.

[mollyjimbly]

🚨🚨ATTENTION🚨🚨

Another Disgusting anti-LGBT bill, planning to censor queer content online.

Yet again another law that infringes on privacy. and anonymity.

The bill is KOSA

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1409

KOSA is a threat to LGBTQ+ youth.

It allows right-wing AGs to censor LGBTQ+ content in the name of "protecting kids".

This doesn't protect kids. This actually hurts kids even more.

It will snuff out LGBTQ+ spaces and makes the internet more of a dangerous place for them, more or less...

"Of course, like so many of these “bipartisan” anti-internet bills that have bipartisan support, the support on each side of the aisle is based on a very different view of how the bill will be used in practice. We went through this last year with the AICOA antitrust bill. Democrats supported it (falsely) believing that it would magically increase competition, while Republicans were gleefully talking about how they were going to use it to force websites to host their propaganda."

"Now, with KOSA, again you have Democrats naively (and incorrectly) believing that because it’s called the “Kids Online Safety Bill” it will magically protect children, even though tons of experts have made it clear it will actually put them at greater risk."

https://www.techdirt.com/2023/05/24/heritage-foundation-says-that-of-course-gop-will-use-kosa-to-censor-lgbtq-content/

KOSA will also undermine privacy in the name of "protecting children".

"This bill would effectively place many internet services behind an age verification wall, prevent anonymous surfing, and would require all users – adults or teens – to verify their age before they can access information or content.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association supports the enactment of comprehensive privacy legislation at the federal level, but has concerns about KOSA’s duty of care, vague requirements that would prevent teens from accessing critical information, and compliance provisions that conflict with current trends toward data minimization."

https://ccianet.org/news/2023/05/ccia-statement-on-unintended-consequences-of-kosa-legislation-would-place-most-internet-services-behind-age-verification-wall/

Age verification technology is just not secure enough for usage at the moment, leaks are likely to happen, it will be especially dangerous if the leaked Age verification information has a government ID linked to it. That would mean that malicious individuals may get a hold of personal addresses, bank details, basically you'll get doxxed by the government...

You may be asking, "well is there anything to do about it?"

Of course there is, but we really need your help spreading awareness around, because the bill is most likely to pass this July!

This website was put together by Fight for the Future. It has everything, from petitions to calls scripts. It's very easy to understand and use and one of the best links to spread. I urge you to use this when calling your members of congress. All you need to do is put in your phone number once and read off the script provided and it does the rest for you.

https://www.badinternetbills.com/

Signable petitions and open letters;

If you live in the states, call your state representatives;

Joinable Discord server;

More information;

I have to say again and I am not exaggerating, this is URGENT the bill could be passed THIS MONTH!

I am begging you, please OPPOSE KOSA!!

[arabella-strange]

lots of intense (and sometimes heated) takes On Here about what Ludinus thinks Bells Hells are going to think of this Downfall window, about what BH will actually think, about whether Luda or the Primes or Aeor is right -- lots of debates

What if the disagreement is the point?

Because what's clear to me is that there is no right answer for Aeor. There are entire schools of ethics and philosophy and justice and action/intention/agency devoted to debating what a "good" choice would be here -- good for the Primes, good for Aeor. Is it the Trolley Problem; is it meliorism; is it the law of unintended consequences; is it the categorical imperative or is it the paradox of tolerance; etc. etc. etc.

But what if Ludinus's goal is to sow division among BH? What if the point is that he doesn't care if he convinces all of them -- he just needs to divide them. What if he saw this recording -- saw the oh-so-close divisions and cracks and flaws in the bonds among the Gods that took them out of this plane -- and said, "Hey. Now there's an idea for how to clear the field!" Because I can imagine half the party being really moved by the way the Primes were trying to save some people even as they were trying to maintain a perspective beyond what any mortal could see; and just as easily I can imagine half the party being livid and unmoved by this impossible situation and determined more than ever that the Gods are just people who have high-level power, not perfect beings or omniscient ones or even ones who should get to decide what kinds of extreme solutions are okay and which are not. I can imagine a debate -- a heated debate, maybe even a fracturing one -- among Bells Hells.

And so I wonder (and I apologize if this is the rise of the fash in 2024 on my mind) if the division is the point.

[mariacallous]

As national legislation on deepfake pornography crawls its way through Congress, states across the country are trying to take matters into their own hands. Thirty-nine states have introduced a hodgepodge of laws designed to deter the creation of nonconsensual deepfakes and punish those who make and share them.

Earlier this year, Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, herself a victim of nonconsensual deepfakes, introduced the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, or Defiance Act. If passed, the bill would allow victims of deepfake pornography to sue as long as they could prove the deepfakes had been made without their consent. In June, Republican senator Ted Cruz introduced the Take It Down Act, which would require platforms to remove both revenge porn and nonconsensual deepfake porn.

Though there’s bilateral support for many of these measures, federal legislation can take years to make it through both houses of Congress before being signed into law. But state legislatures and local politicians can move faster—and they’re trying to.

Last month, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu’s office announced a lawsuit against 16 of the most visited websites that allow users to create AI-generated pornography. “Generative AI has enormous promise, but as with all new technologies, there are unintended consequences and criminals seeking to exploit the new technology. We have to be very clear that this is not innovation—this is sexual abuse,” Chiu said in a statement released by his office at the time.

The suit was just the latest attempt to try to curtail the ever-growing issue of nonconsensual deepfake pornography.

“I think there's a misconception that it's just celebrities that are being affected by this,” says Ilana Beller, organizing manager at Public Citizen, which has been tracking nonconsensual deepfake legislation and shared their findings with WIRED. “It's a lot of everyday people who are having this experience.”

Data from Public Citizen shows that 23 states have passed some form of nonconsensual deepfake law. “This is such a pervasive issue, and so state legislators are seeing this as a problem,” says Beller. “I also think that legislators are interested in passing AI legislation right now because we are seeing how fast the technology is developing.”

Last year, WIRED reported that deepfake pornography is only increasing, and researchers estimate that 90 percent of deepfake videos are of porn, the vast majority of which is nonconsensual porn of women. But despite how pervasive the issue is, Kaylee Williams, a researcher at Columbia University who has been tracking nonconsensual deepfake legislation, says she has seen legislators more focused on political deepfakes.

“More states are interested in protecting electoral integrity in that way than they are in dealing with the intimate image question,” she says.

Matthew Bierlein, a Republican state representative in Michigan, who cosponsored the state’s package of nonconsensual deepfake bills, says that he initially came to the issue after exploring legislation on political deepfakes. “Our plan was to make [political deepfakes] a campaign finance violation if you didn’t put disclaimers on them to notify the public.” Through his work on political deepfakes, Bierlein says, he began working with Democratic representative Penelope Tsernoglou, who helped spearhead the nonconsensual deepfake bills.

At the time in January, nonconsensual deepfakes of Taylor Swift had just gone viral, and the subject was widely covered in the news. “We thought that the opportunity was the right time to be able to do something,” Beirlein says. And Beirlein says that he felt Michigan was in the position to be a regional leader in the Midwest, because, unlike some of its neighbors, it has a full-time legislature with well-paid staffers (most states don’t). “We understand that it's a bigger issue than just a Michigan issue. But a lot of things can start at the state level,” he says. “If we get this done, then maybe Ohio adopts this in their legislative session, maybe Indiana adopts something similar, or Illinois, and that can make enforcement easier.”

But what the penalties for creating and sharing nonconsensual deepfakes are—and who is protected—can vary widely from state to state. “The US landscape is just wildly inconsistent on this issue,” says Williams. “I think there's been this misconception lately that all these laws are being passed all over the country. I think what people are seeing is that there have been a lot of laws proposed.”

Some states allow for civil and criminal cases to be brought against perpetrators, while others might only provide for one of the two. Laws like the one that recently took effect in Mississippi, for instance, focus on minors. Over the past year or so, there have been a spate of instances of middle and high schoolers using generative AI to make explicit images and videos of classmates, particularly girls. Other laws focus on adults, with legislators essentially updating existing laws banning revenge porn.

Unlike laws that focus on nonconsensual deepfakes of minors, on which Williams says there is a broad consensus that there they are an “inherent moral wrong,” legislation around what is “ethical” when it comes to nonconsensual deepfakes of adults is “squishier.” In many cases, laws and proposed legislation require proving intent, that the goal of the person making and sharing the nonconsensual deepfake was to harm its subject.

But online, says Sara Jodka, an attorney who specializes in privacy and cybersecurity, this patchwork of state-based legislation can be particularly difficult. “If you can't find a person behind an IP address, how can you prove who the person is, let alone show their intent?”

Williams also notes that in the case of nonconsensual deepfakes of celebrities or other public figures, many of the creators don’t necessarily see themselves as doing harm. “They’ll say, ‘This is fan content,’ that they admire this person and are attracted to them,” she says.

State laws, Jobka says, while a good start, are likely to have limited power to actually deal with the issue, and only a federal law against nonconsensual deepfakes would allow for the kind of interstate investigations and prosecutions that could really force justice and accountability. “States don't really have a lot of ability to track down across state lines internationally,” she says. “So it's going to be very rare, and it's going to be very specific scenarios where the laws are going to be able to even be enforced.”

But Michigan’s Bierlein says that many state representatives are not content to wait for the federal government to address the issue. Bierlein expressed particular concern about the role nonconsensual deepfakes could play in sextortion scams, which the FBI says have been on the rise. In 2023, a Michigan teen died by suicide after scammers threatened to post his (real) intimate photos online. “Things move really slow on a federal level, and if we waited for them to do something, we could be waiting a lot longer,” he says.