Meta's advertising platform ran promotional content for an application designed to create non-consensual nude images of women, including a deepfake video of a US politician. Apple removed the app following media inquiry.
Meta allowed advertisements for an app that generates synthetic nude images of female politicians and other women, according to reporting by WIRED. One advertisement displayed a pornographic deepfake video closely resembling a prominent American politician.
The app promised to automatically remove clothing from images of women without consent. Meta's platforms—including Instagram and Facebook—carried paid promotions for the service despite policies prohibiting such content.
Apple had already removed the application from its App Store following WIRED's inquiry into the issue. The removal highlights enforcement gaps across digital platforms regarding non-consensual intimate imagery and deepfake technology.
Neither Meta nor Apple immediately responded to requests for comment about how the advertisements bypassed content moderation systems or what actions would be taken to prevent similar promotions.
The incident underscores ongoing challenges tech platforms face in moderating AI-generated sexual content. Deepfake pornography and non-consensual image manipulation tools have proliferated across the internet, targeting public figures and private individuals alike.
Meta's content policies explicitly prohibit advertisements for tools designed to create non-consensual intimate images. The platform maintains it removes such content and takes action against accounts promoting illegal services.
This case represents another instance of platforms struggling to prevent harmful applications from being advertised, despite stated policies. The technical sophistication of deepfake tools and the scale of global platforms make consistent enforcement difficult.
Legislators in multiple countries have begun proposing regulations to address non-consensual synthetic intimate imagery. Some jurisdictions have criminalized creation and distribution of deepfake pornography, though enforcement remains limited.
The incident coincides with increased scrutiny of AI-generated sexual content and platforms' responsibility in restricting access to such tools.
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