Unlike traditional hackers who steal credit cards, Mondomongers steal likeness . They scrape Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, training neural networks on the faces of the famous until they can render that face doing anything the algorithm commands. Why Elizabeth Olsen ? In the pantheon of Hollywood, Olsen presents a unique vulnerability. She is mainstream enough to be globally recognized (thanks to Marvel’s $2 billion Multiverse of Madness ), but she is also perceived as "accessible" enough to be a primary target for the Mondomonger community.
If the algorithm can make Elizabeth Olsen say she supports a political coup or appear in a compromising video, then your neighbor’s daughter can be removed from her life by a scorned ex-boyfriend with a laptop and a grudge. Olsen is the canary in the coalmine of synthetic media. How do we dismantle the Mondomonger ? Fan-Topia.Mondomonger.Deepfakes.Elizabeth.Olsen...
In Fan-Topia, the Mondomongers claim they are pushing the boundaries of art. They argue that deepfaking Elizabeth Olsen is no different than Andy Warhol silk-screening Marilyn Monroe. In the pantheon of Hollywood, Olsen presents a
She is being generous. The reality isn't a "story"—it is degradation. Because of Section 230 (in the US) and lax international enforcement, the Mondomongers operate with near impunity. Takedown notices are a game of whack-a-mole. Remove a deepfake from Site A, and it propagates to Site B, C, and D within minutes. Where is the line between "art" and "assault"? Olsen is the canary in the coalmine of synthetic media
