Artificial Intelligence and its use in daily life raise questions. Regulations on the matter vary from country to country. In the United States, laws remain quite vague, and Scarlett Johansson has spoken out against the lack of oversight.
AI and the fight against antisemitism
A video published on social media features several American celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Steven Spielberg, Natalie Portman, and Drake. A total of about twenty artists appear in the shocking footage. What they all have in common is their Jewish heritage. The video has sparked outrage because all of them are seen wearing a white t-shirt with rapper Kanye West’s name printed on it, topped with a Star of David inside a raised middle finger. The video ends with two messages: “Enough is enough” and “Join the fight against antisemitism.”
Recently, American rapper Kanye West has been making headlines for his repeated antisemitic provocations and posts on the social media platform X. His fashion brand’s website, Yeezy, was recently taken down after he began selling t-shirts featuring a swastika. This video was released in direct response to his antisemitic statements. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the video was generated using artificial intelligence. None of the celebrities featured actually participated in it. Shocked, actress Scarlett Johansson condemned the use of her image without her consent and revealed that she was “alerted” to the video by her friends and family.
Scarlett Johansson’s fight for AI regulation
Scarlett Johansson expressed her concern in a press statement. “This video, which is spreading rapidly online, keeps gaining traction,” the actress lamented. While she affirmed that she is “a Jewish woman who does not tolerate antisemitism or any form of hate speech,” she also stressed the urgent need to regulate AI to prevent its misuse. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, it makes the creation and mass distribution of misleading content easier than ever. Johansson urged the U.S. government to make this issue “an absolute priority.” “The danger of hate speech amplified by AI is far greater than that of an individual acting alone.” According to her, deceptive AI use is even more dangerous than Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks.
AI regulations remain unclear and are not universally enforced. In France, it is mandatory to disclose when content has been created using artificial intelligence. Scarlett Johansson is now calling on the U.S. government to implement stricter regulations on AI after the viral spread of this manipulated video, which falsely portrays her and other celebrities without their consent. Her advocacy for AI regulation is not new. In 2024, the actress accused OpenAI of using her voice for ChatGPT. Following the controversy, Sam Altman’s company ultimately changed the chatbot’s voice.
The video was created by an Israeli advertising company, which confirmed that it was a deliberate fabrication. The company’s CEO stated that the project was a political statement, not a commercial endeavor. As AI-generated content was disclosed at the time of publication, the video’s distribution is not considered illegal.