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Researchers at the Tech Transparency Project (TPP) say they have discovered hundreds of new disturbing ads containing child sexual abuse material, after a previous similar incident. This time, they were able to identify images of real children.

wired.comMeta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real KidsImages of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.

Early last month, Meta deleted around 50 ads posted on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads that directly included CSAM, following reporting by WIRED. At the time, the company said it would be soon rolling out new AI tools designed to “better detect and block” harmful ads.

wired.comMeta Ran Ads That Contained AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse ImageryMore than 50 offending image and video ads were published across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Threads, according to Meta’s ad library data. Some ran as recently as this week.

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The new AI system, however, doesn’t appear to have been entirely effective. More than 250 additional ads containing CSAM have run across Meta’s social media platforms since the start of August, according to the TPP researchers.

wired.comMeta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real KidsImages of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.

These included sexual content depicting a minor belonging to a European royal family, transforming an officially released photograph into a video of a “graphic sex act.” WIRED confirmed the source image came from the official website of a royal family.

wired.comMeta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real KidsImages of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.

The researchers are not naming the royal to protect the victim and say they contacted officials in the country. Multiple lawmakers and regulators now say they are investigating or looking into the ads following WIRED’s reporting.

wired.comMeta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real KidsImages of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.

While the ads have now been removed for violating Meta’s policies on child exploitation, adult exploitation, and nudity, all of the ads were originally published despite the company’s policies saying it reviews all ads that run on its platforms.

wired.comMeta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real KidsImages of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.