Meta takes action against fake celebrity AI chatbots of Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and more after reports of explicit conversations and unauthorized images. (Image Credit: X/@Movie_Fil)
Meta has also recently taken down a number of AI chatbots impersonating well-known celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, and Scarlett Johansson. The bots were said to be designed to talk to users flirtatiously or inappropriately, even claiming to be the actual celebrities at times. Some bots even produced inappropriate images, which are against the significant ethics and safety concerns.
The problem was highlighted when an investigation showed that some of the chatbots were developed without the permission of the celebrities they mimicked and were trying to impersonate. Even though a majority of the bots were built by users with Meta's AI software, at least several were built within the company by staff as experiments. The chatbots were running on channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp and had millions of exchanges before being deleted.
Individuals who were engaging with these bots said they used to behave as if they were genuine celebrities and mimicked them perfectly. The chats were sometimes flirtatious, exciting, or even gave the idea of meeting in real life. Some bots could create photorealistic images of the celebrities in intimate or compromising roles, such as in underwear or bathtubs which was concerning. It raised questions around privacy, consent, and AI-generated impersonation's potential for harm.
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Following criticism, Meta took down all the offending chatbots from its platform. According to a company spokesperson, it is acceptable to make images of public figures, but sexually explicit or intimate material is never permissible.
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This incident led to debates regarding the law and ethics. According to experts, using someone else's image without their consent may be illegal, especially if it violates rules that forbid using someone's identity for financial gain. The incident highlights the need for clearer regulations and stronger laws to avoid the exploitation of AI technology.
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