The primary reasons for the strict filtering of terms like “nude” or “semi-nude” in generative AI and content moderation systems are rooted in corporate values, US cultural biases, and the growing influence of MACA (Make America Christian Again) movements in American politics. Let’s revisit the explanation with these points in mind.
1. Corporate Values
- Conservative Stances: Many Big Tech companies adopt conservative policies regarding ‘sensitive topics’ like nudity to protect their brand image and avoid public backlash. This is often a preemptive measure to:
- Prevent accusations of facilitating explicit or inappropriate content.
- Maintain partnerships with advertisers who prefer platforms free of controversial content.
- Global Market Influence: Even though these companies operate globally, their policies often reflect the cultural norms of their headquarters (e.g., Silicon Valley in the US), where corporate conservatism frequently prevails.
2. US Cultural Biases Regarding Nudity
- Historical Taboo: The United States has a long history of associating nudity with immorality or indecency, a stark contrast to more permissive views in many European countries.
- Nudity in art, education, or historical contexts is often lumped together with explicit sexual content, leading to over-censorship.
- Platform Policies as Extensions of US Norms: Even when operating internationally, platforms like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google enforce policies that reflect American cultural biases of certain parts of the American society.
- For example, discussions or depictions of any form of nudity, even in purely artistic or educational contexts, are blocked or flagged as inappropriate.
3. Growing Influence of MACA (Make America Christian Again)
- Moral Conservatism in Politics: The MACA movement emphasizes returning to traditional Christian values, which include strong opposition to depictions of nudity, even in non-sexualized contexts.
- This influence has led to increased scrutiny of Big Tech companies to align their policies with these values.
- Legislative and Public Pressure: Politicians and advocacy groups linked to MACA have pushed for stricter controls on online content, framing it as a moral obligation.
- Companies preemptively adjust their policies to avoid political conflict and potential regulation.
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Why These Factors Drive Over-Filtering
- Fear of Boycotts: Leadership of Big Tech Companies face pressure from conservative groups that threaten boycotts or bad publicity if they allow any content deemed controversial.
- Homogenized Policies: To ‘simplify’ compliance, avoid case-by-case moderation, platforms apply blanket bans on terms like “nude,” regardless of context.
- US-Centric Development: Despite their global presence, most tech giants design policies based on US cultural and political landscapes, exporting these norms to users worldwide.
Conclusion
The primary drivers behind strict NSFW filtering and any NSFW prompt filtering in general in generative AI by US-based Big Tech corporates are rooted in:
- Corporate values that prioritize a “safe” brand image over nuanced moderation.
- US cultural biases that equate all nudity with indecency.
- The growing influence of MACA, which reinforces moral conservatism in digital red ocean business strategy decisions and content policy decisions. Under the growing influence of people like Doug Wilson.
These factors collectively result in over-censorship, stifling freedom of expression and disregarding the cultural norms of non-US nations and regions. If platforms are to serve a truly global audience, they must re-evaluate these policies and take a step from their current strategic positioning of ‘the 3 digital gatekeepers of Global Morality. The have to start to respect cultural and artistic values and norms, national legal frameworks and regional legal frameworks like the EU AI Act.
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