Social media giant under fire as disguised explicit content slips past review systems
- Replies 8
In an age where the internet is a central part of our daily lives, it's alarming to discover that the platforms we use to connect with friends, learn new skills, and unwind could expose us to inappropriate content without our consent.
This is particularly concerning for our community of people in their 60s who often use social media to stay in touch with family and friends.
A recent controversy surrounding a major social media company has exposed a troubling breach of trust, leaving many users feeling uneasy and exploited.
Meta has been forced to take action after it was discovered that a page had published two dozen sexually explicit ads cleverly disguised as harmless makeup tutorials.
These ads slipped past the platform's automated review process, a system that protects users from such content.
The ABC NEWS Verify team conducted an investigation that linked these ads to a dubious online store selling erectile dysfunction supplements, which was rife with deceptive practices.
The eSafety commissioner's office in Australia has stated that these pornographic ads clearly violate online safety codes, which social media companies were required to submit by 28 February.
The ads appeared to be ordinary makeup tutorials, with captions like 'Unlock Your Confidence Naturally' or 'Transform Your Intimate Life Today.'
However, as soon as the video auto-played on a user's feed, it would abruptly switch to graphic sexual content.
The ads were part of a more significant issue, with thousands of paid advertisements featuring graphic sexual imagery, AI-generated models, spurious medical claims, and fake celebrity endorsements being published globally on Meta's platforms.
'Meta prohibits the display of nudity or sexual activity in ads or organic posts on our platforms, and these ads have been removed for violating our Advertising Standards,' a spokesperson said.
Meta relies heavily on automated technology to review the millions of ads across its platforms.
'Bad actors are constantly evolving their tactics to avoid enforcement, which is why we continue to invest in machine learning tools and technology to help identify and remove violating content,' the spokesperson added.
The creators of the explicit ads used a deceptive technique where the first frame, which served as the default thumbnail, showed the makeup instructor.
The instructor would reappear intermittently during the explicit content, which seemed enough to fool the automated systems.
The situation raises questions about whether there are different rules for paying accounts.
Research by the European non-profit organisation AI Forensics found that over 3,300 unique ads with explicit content were published on Meta platforms in the EU within a year, targeting men over 45 and reaching an estimated 8 million users.
When AI Forensics attempted to upload the same ads using regular, non-commercial accounts, the content was automatically taken down before publication.
This suggested a possible 'double standard' where Meta quickly removes content from regular accounts but is slower to act on commercial accounts posting ads.
'Despite pornographic content being forbidden by Meta's policies for both ads and regular posts, Meta approves explicit ads while removing regular posts,' AI Forensics lead researcher Paul Bouchaud said.
The eSafety commissioner has set a deadline for tech companies in Australia to develop industry codes to better safeguard against inappropriate content, with the potential for heavy civil penalties for non-compliance.
The website linked to the fake makeup tutorials selling VIRO erectile dysfunction supplements was found to be filled with deceptive practices.
Claims of all-natural, clinically proven ingredients, FDA-registered facilities, and endorsements from a non-existent urologist named Dr Jonathan Meyers were all part of the ruse.
The website's certificates were for different companies, the listed office address didn't exist, and the contact information was non-functional. Even the product images were doctored.
Experts like Christopher Fox, a senior lecturer in sexual health at the University of Sydney, have criticised the website for preying on male vulnerability and shame.
'This is just praying on people's discomfort around sex…it's playing on vulnerability and shame and stigma about not having an erection,' he said.
'When we become sexually aroused, we become often more hyper-focused on sex…to engage in sexual activity, i.e. looking at porn for longer, masturbating more, trying different things,'
This incident is a reminder of the importance of vigilance when navigating social media platforms.
It's crucial for users, especially seniors who may be less familiar with the darker corners of the internet, to be aware of the potential risks and to report any suspicious content immediately.
As we await the implementation of stricter industry codes, it's up to each of us to protect ourselves and our loved ones from such exploitative practices.
In other news, Meta plans to tighten advertising rules on social media, Facebook and Instagram, to curb scam ads targeting Australians.
Advertisers promoting financial products must verify their credentials, potentially including an Australian financial services licence number. You can read more about it here.
Have you or someone you know encountered similar deceptive ads on social media? Please share your experiences in the comments below, and let's work together to keep our online community secure.
This is particularly concerning for our community of people in their 60s who often use social media to stay in touch with family and friends.
A recent controversy surrounding a major social media company has exposed a troubling breach of trust, leaving many users feeling uneasy and exploited.
Meta has been forced to take action after it was discovered that a page had published two dozen sexually explicit ads cleverly disguised as harmless makeup tutorials.
These ads slipped past the platform's automated review process, a system that protects users from such content.
The ABC NEWS Verify team conducted an investigation that linked these ads to a dubious online store selling erectile dysfunction supplements, which was rife with deceptive practices.
Sexually explicit ads disguised as makeup tutorials were removed from Facebook and Instagram after an investigation. Credit: Depositphotos
The eSafety commissioner's office in Australia has stated that these pornographic ads clearly violate online safety codes, which social media companies were required to submit by 28 February.
The ads appeared to be ordinary makeup tutorials, with captions like 'Unlock Your Confidence Naturally' or 'Transform Your Intimate Life Today.'
However, as soon as the video auto-played on a user's feed, it would abruptly switch to graphic sexual content.
The ads were part of a more significant issue, with thousands of paid advertisements featuring graphic sexual imagery, AI-generated models, spurious medical claims, and fake celebrity endorsements being published globally on Meta's platforms.
'Meta prohibits the display of nudity or sexual activity in ads or organic posts on our platforms, and these ads have been removed for violating our Advertising Standards,' a spokesperson said.
Meta relies heavily on automated technology to review the millions of ads across its platforms.
'Bad actors are constantly evolving their tactics to avoid enforcement, which is why we continue to invest in machine learning tools and technology to help identify and remove violating content,' the spokesperson added.
The creators of the explicit ads used a deceptive technique where the first frame, which served as the default thumbnail, showed the makeup instructor.
The instructor would reappear intermittently during the explicit content, which seemed enough to fool the automated systems.
The situation raises questions about whether there are different rules for paying accounts.
Research by the European non-profit organisation AI Forensics found that over 3,300 unique ads with explicit content were published on Meta platforms in the EU within a year, targeting men over 45 and reaching an estimated 8 million users.
When AI Forensics attempted to upload the same ads using regular, non-commercial accounts, the content was automatically taken down before publication.
This suggested a possible 'double standard' where Meta quickly removes content from regular accounts but is slower to act on commercial accounts posting ads.
'Despite pornographic content being forbidden by Meta's policies for both ads and regular posts, Meta approves explicit ads while removing regular posts,' AI Forensics lead researcher Paul Bouchaud said.
The eSafety commissioner has set a deadline for tech companies in Australia to develop industry codes to better safeguard against inappropriate content, with the potential for heavy civil penalties for non-compliance.
The website linked to the fake makeup tutorials selling VIRO erectile dysfunction supplements was found to be filled with deceptive practices.
Claims of all-natural, clinically proven ingredients, FDA-registered facilities, and endorsements from a non-existent urologist named Dr Jonathan Meyers were all part of the ruse.
The website's certificates were for different companies, the listed office address didn't exist, and the contact information was non-functional. Even the product images were doctored.
Experts like Christopher Fox, a senior lecturer in sexual health at the University of Sydney, have criticised the website for preying on male vulnerability and shame.
'This is just praying on people's discomfort around sex…it's playing on vulnerability and shame and stigma about not having an erection,' he said.
'When we become sexually aroused, we become often more hyper-focused on sex…to engage in sexual activity, i.e. looking at porn for longer, masturbating more, trying different things,'
This incident is a reminder of the importance of vigilance when navigating social media platforms.
It's crucial for users, especially seniors who may be less familiar with the darker corners of the internet, to be aware of the potential risks and to report any suspicious content immediately.
As we await the implementation of stricter industry codes, it's up to each of us to protect ourselves and our loved ones from such exploitative practices.
In other news, Meta plans to tighten advertising rules on social media, Facebook and Instagram, to curb scam ads targeting Australians.
Advertisers promoting financial products must verify their credentials, potentially including an Australian financial services licence number. You can read more about it here.
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