Meta Sues Over Celebrity Deepfake Advertising Scams

On Thursday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, filed a lawsuit against multiple individuals and companies in Brazil and China for their involvement in deepfake scams that impersonate celebrities. The lawsuit targets four fraudulent advertisers, including the Brazilian firm Brite Academia de Treinamento and two individuals, Vitor Lourenco de Souza and Milena Luciani Sanchez.

These scammers utilized deepfake technology to create sophisticated voice and video copies of well-known figures, including the renowned Brazilian oncologist Drauzio Varella, to promote healthcare products without regulatory approval. The fraudulent activities have reportedly reached billions in earnings, misleading the public into believing in the legitimacy of these advertisements.

Meta's legal action is part of a broader effort to combat fraud on its platforms and protect public health. The lawsuit also implicates Shenzhen Yunzheng Technology from China, which is involved in similar deceptive practices targeting individuals in the U.S. and Japan.