More than 50 ads containing AI-generated child abuse images were reportedly distributed on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads. These paid ads were published between November 2025 and early August 2026, some still active at the time of discovery. They targeted internet users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and over a dozen European countries.
Several campaigns promoted applications capable of modifying photographs, artificially undressing people, or inserting their faces into pornographic content. At least one ad reportedly reached 2,563 accounts in Europe, but the total audience could be larger, as available data is incomplete for some territories. This case raises serious concern since Meta’s ads are normally reviewed before distribution, mainly through automated tools.
Meta’s moderation systems under scrutiny
Meta removed the ads after they were reported, acknowledging they violated its rules on child sexual exploitation, nudity, and sexual solicitations. The company states it is actively working to prevent the distribution of such content and removed over 36 million posts related to child sexual exploitation in the past year. It also claims to have deployed new AI systems to detect prohibited ads as soon as they are uploaded.
However, the effectiveness of these measures remains disputed, as some identical ads reportedly reappeared after being removed. Several ads linked to the MaskAI app, which was removed from the App Store after discovery of features enabling the creation of artificial sexual content. The case illustrates the ability of malicious networks to multiply accounts, domains, and advertisers to circumvent controls, while highlighting the need for enhanced human oversight of ads on major platforms.
