Tech giant Meta announced on Thursday that it is filing a lawsuit against Joy Timeline HK Limited, the creator of the CrushAI app, which allegedly uses artificial intelligence to generate nude images of individuals whose pictures depict them clothed.
According to reliable sources, the legal proceedings are taking place in Hong Kong, and the lawsuit is part of Meta’s effort to prevent Joy Timeline from promoting its apps on Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
Reports indicate that the legal action follows what Meta describes as ‘multiple attempts’ by Joy Timeline to sidestep Meta’s advertisement review procedures. Ads for the so-called ‘nudify’ apps have surfaced on Meta’s platforms despite supposedly breaching the firm’s advertising policies. CrushAI, the developer of these apps, is accused of promoting tools that purportedly allow users to upload photos and ‘see anyone naked.’
Meta has consistently stated that it prohibits ‘non-consensual intimate imagery’ on its platforms. The company has previously reported removing ads for such technology, eliminating pages that host these ads, and permanently barring websites associated with these apps.
This development follows earlier reports that Meta shared information about entities that contravene its policies with other technology companies through the Tech Coalition’s Lantern Program. This program monitors behaviors that infringe upon child safety regulations. Since March, Meta has reportedly provided the coalition with data on over 3,800 sites.
Meta’s statement on Thursday revealed that advertisers of ‘nudify’ apps deploy various tactics to dodge detection on its platforms. In response, Meta asserts it has improved its technology to better identify these covert ads. The company said, ‘We’ve worked with external experts and our specialist teams to expand the list of safety-related terms, phrases, and emojis that our systems are trained to detect with these ads.’
This lawsuit reflects Meta’s commitment to safeguarding its community from what it views as abuse of its platforms and serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that technology companies face in monitoring and combating inappropriate content.
Meta is taking legal action against an app maker it accuses of breaching its advertising policies and circumventing its detection mechanisms. This raises important questions about the role and responsibility of technology companies in ensuring user safety and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
