Meta Under Scrutiny Over AI Child Abuse Ads, Invasive Meta AI Prompts, and Biometric Data Lawsuit

The Tech Transparency Project found more than 350 AI-generated child sexual abuse video ads on Meta platforms, drawing a San Francisco cease-and-desist plus state, federal, and Australian scrutiny; Meta now also faces an Illinois biometric-privacy class…

An investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found that more than 350 child sexual abuse material (CSAM) video ads ran across Meta's Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads platforms despite its ad review — over 250 additional ads since August, on top of roughly 53 Meta had previously removed, exceeding 350 total since late last year. Some ads used AI face-swapping to morph images of real children, including a member of a European royal family and teen influencers, into graphic sexual videos, and promoted AI nudification apps linked to Chinese developers on the Apple and Google app stores. Reach figures differ by source: Ars Technica reports over 29,000 people reached in the EU and 6,800 in the UK, with about 80% of ads shown in the US, while WIRED describes 29,000+ accounts across the EU, US, Australia, and India. Meta's AI detection tools failed to catch the ads; some ads Meta was told about stayed live for a week and gained views, and a Facebook page posing as representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ran a CSAM ad that Meta disabled only after TTP flagged it. TTP reported its findings to the NCMEC CyberTipline. Meta said all flagged ads have been removed, that flagged ads averaged fewer than 200 impressions (its later statement, per WIRED, said most had fewer than 200), and that total ad spend was under $5,000. The story has drawn investigations from the Michigan and Florida attorneys general, a letter from Senator Mark Warner demanding an end to the ads, and a senior-level information request from Australia's eSafety regulator. On 2026-09-09, 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; Meta argues the ads ran outside the city attorney's jurisdiction. Australia also released draft Digital Duty of Care legislation (reported 2026-09-09), including a 'My Feed, My Way' measure letting users over 16 switch off algorithmically curated feeds, under-18 protections covering social media, games, apps, and AI chatbots, non-compliance penalties up to AU$109.2 million (US$78.6 million), and eSafety Commissioner powers to issue removal notices for nudify apps and sites; the bill is expected in Parliament before Christmas and follows Australia's under-16 social media ban and Meta's US settlement over teen feed choice. Separately, on 2026-09-11 Meta said it…

• TTP found more than 350 AI-generated CSAM video ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads: over 250 since August on top of ~53 Meta had previously removed, exceeding 350 total since late last year.
• Ads used AI face-swapping to turn images of real children — including a European royal family member and teen influencers — into sexual videos, promoting nudify apps linked to Chinese developers on the Apple and Google app stores.
• Reach differs by source: 29,000+ people in the EU and 6,800 in the UK, with ~80% of ads shown in the US (Ars Technica) vs. 29,000+ accounts across the EU, US, Australia, and India (WIRED).
• Meta says flagged ads averaged fewer than 200 impressions and total ad spend was under $5,000; some ads Meta was told about stayed live for a week, and a CSAM ad on a fake LDS-affiliated Facebook page was disabled only after TTP flagged it.
• TTP reported its findings to the NCMEC CyberTipline.
• Michigan and Florida attorneys general are investigating; Senator Mark Warner sent Meta a letter demanding an end to the ads; Australia's eSafety regulator sought information at a senior level.
• 2026-09-09: San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu issued a cease-and-desist requiring answers within 28 days about moderation failures; Meta argues the ads ran outside his jurisdiction.
• Australia's draft Digital Duty of Care bill (reported 2026-09-09): 'My Feed, My Way' feed opt-out for users over 16, under-18 protections covering social media, games, apps, and AI chatbots, penalties up to AU$109.2 million (US$78.6…