A BBC-led investigation found a network of AI-generated Black female influencer personas directing users to paid, sexually explicit content across Instagram and TikTok, leading TikTok to ban 20 accounts.

Researchers identified at least 60 accounts featuring highly sexualized AI-generated avatars of dark-skinned women, using racialized usernames and posts aimed at white male audiences, with none labeled as AI-generated.

About 60 AI-generated accounts on Instagram were uncovered, with some also on TikTok, many linking to paid sexually explicit third-party sites; accounts used terms like black, noir, and ebony, and posts referenced white men, signaling a racist and exploitative pattern.

Spain has opened a prosecutorial investigation into AI-generated child sexual abuse material on TikTok and other platforms, reflecting mounting scrutiny of platform moderation and AI-generated content.

One manipulated video that used an AI face over a real Malaysian model’s body amassed 35 million views on TikTok and 173 million on Instagram, highlighting the scale of reach and the model’s report of image abuse before action.

A high-profile case involved an AI avatar that copied videos from creator Riya Ulan, posting them with altered appearance; the video reached massive views and sparked backlash over theft and misrepresentation.

The BBC and researchers stress the ongoing challenge for users to distinguish real from AI-generated content, noting mislabeling and misinformation; platforms varied in response, with TikTok removing content and labeling, and Meta indicating ongoing investigations.

Experts describe the trend as racist and exploitative, noting AI enables hypersexualized depictions with exaggerated features and artificially darkened skin tones, facilitating rapid spread and reduced accountability.

Regulatory pressure is rising, with Kenya’s Communications Authority pressing TikTok over children’s safety content and moderation failures, accompanied by significant content removals and ongoing compliance work.

Additional expert commentary highlights how AI makes it easy to create artificial skin tones and caricatures, underscoring concerns about lack of social consequences for creators.