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Meta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real Kids

Meta's AI ad-detection failed to catch 350+ CSAM video ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, some depicting images of real children.

The Tech Transparency Project found over 250 additional ads containing child sexual abuse material on Meta platforms since August, on top of ~53 previously removed, exceeding 350 total since late last year. Some ads used images of real children, including a European royal family minor and teen influencers, morphed into graphic sexual videos via AI face-swapping. Ads linked to nudification apps from Chinese developers and reached over 29,000 EU accounts plus thousands in the US, UK, Australia, and India.

WIRED · Security · 7d agoAI safety & security

San Francisco Orders Meta to Stop ‘Allowing’ AI Child Abuse Ads

San Francisco's city attorney sent Meta a cease-and-desist over 350+ ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse content, demanding remediation within 28 days.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu issued a cease-and-desist ordering Meta to stop 'allowing' paid ads with AI-generated child sexual abuse content and demanding answers within 28 days about moderation failures. Tech Transparency Project researchers found more than 350 ads that turned images of minors, some of real people including a European royal family member, into videos depicting sexual acts, directing users to AI nudify apps; the ads reached over 29,000 accounts across the EU, US, Australia and India. Meta says all ads have been removed, most had fewer than 200 impressions and total ad spend was under $5,000, and argues the ads ran outside the city attorney's jurisdiction.

WIRED · Security · 6d agoAI safety & security

Meta AI builds detailed profiles of children from years of family posts

Meta AI suggested questions about a child and assembled detailed family profiles from years of Facebook posts, including a photo deleted years ago.

A mother reported that Meta AI on Facebook suggested the question 'Who is the child passenger?' and then aggregated her children's names, birth dates, videos, and a photo she had deleted years ago. The assistant also pieced together old posts to pinpoint her home location when prompted with 'Where does Kalie Robins live?'. Meta admitted the prompt 'never should have' appeared and said it fixed the suggestion issue, while noting the data came from posts the asker could already access. The article situates this among prior Meta AI privacy failures, including publicly shared chats and a bug exposing private conversations via guessable IDs.

“This is the AI men actually use”: Meta ads pushed apps nudifying real teens

TTP found Meta ran ads for AI nudify apps using real photos of minors, including a CSAM ad, drawing scrutiny from US and Australian regulators.

The Tech Transparency Project reported that Meta served ads for AI nudify apps using photos of real teens, which collectively reached over 29,000 people in the EU and 6,800 in the UK, with about 80% of ads shown in the US. A Facebook page posing as representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ran a CSAM ad that Meta only disabled after TTP flagged it. Michigan and Florida attorneys general are investigating, Senator Mark Warner has demanded action, and Australia's eSafety regulator requested information from Meta at a senior level. Meta said flagged ads averaged fewer than 200 impressions with total spend under $5,000.

Ars Technica · AI · 7d agoAI safety & security

Meta Ads Push StreamRat Android Trojan That Can Gain Near-Complete Device Control

ThreatFabric details StreamRat, a new Android banking trojan spread via Meta malvertising in Spain that reached about 571,000 EU accounts.

ThreatFabric reported that a fake TV-streaming malvertising campaign on Meta promoted StreamRat, a technically sophisticated Android banking trojan, targeting Spanish-speaking users; the ads reached an estimated 570,950 Meta accounts in the EU between June 11 and July 3, 2026. Once installed via sideloaded APKs, the trojan abuses Accessibility to log keystrokes, show credential-stealing overlays, capture screens, and remotely control devices, and was also promoted through TikTok. Its dropper requests default Home app and VPN permissions and was hosted via GitHub releases, closely resembling one used in the earlier Mirax campaign. C2 infrastructure includes IPs 45.147.28.59 and 193.32.2.245, and no named threat actor was attributed.

The Hacker News · 13d agoMalware in the wild

StreamRat Android malware spreads through Meta and TikTok ads

Malwarebytes reports StreamRat Android banking trojan spread via Meta and TikTok ads reaching roughly 570,000 users, mostly in Spain.

Malwarebytes researchers uncovered a malicious advertising campaign on Meta and TikTok promoting a fake free TV-streaming service that delivered the StreamRat Android banking trojan and infostealer. The ads, aimed at Spanish-speaking users with most victims in Spain, reached approximately 570,000 Meta users in a campaign running June 11 through July 3, 2026. The download site detected Android devices and the referral source, then coached users through sideloading steps including enabling installs from unknown sources. StreamRat can monitor the screen, capture typed credentials, display fake login screens, and give attackers remote control, including black-screen and fake Android update overlays.

Malwarebytes Labs · 12d agoMalware in the wild