Taylor Swift deepfakes are pushing scams on TikTok
AI-generated Swift and Rihanna videos trick users into sharing personal data.
Scammers are leveraging AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna to push fraudulent ads on TikTok, according to authentication firm Copyleaks. The ads often manipulate real footage from interviews, red carpets, or talk shows, using realistic AI avatars to promote reward programs that claim users can earn money by watching TikTok content and giving feedback. In one example, a fake Swift avatar urges viewers to sign up for a feature called 'TikTok Pay,' while another shows a fabricated Rihanna saying, 'You literally just watch content and give your opinion.' These ads redirect users to third-party services that request personal information, posing significant privacy risks.
TikTok is not alone in facing this surge of convincing deepfakes. Meta's platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, reportedly see billions of scam ads daily, and YouTube has acknowledged investing heavily in combating celebrity scam ads. Celebrities are also fighting back: Swift recently filed trademark applications for clips of her voice to protect against AI copycats. This incident underscores the growing challenge social platforms face in curbing AI-generated scams that exploit public trust in familiar faces.
- Copyleaks identified AI-generated deepfakes of Taylor Swift and Rihanna on TikTok promoting fake reward programs.
- Scammers redirect users to third-party sites that collect personal data, often using manipulated real footage from interviews.
- Swift filed trademark applications for her voice clips to combat AI impersonation, as platforms like Meta and YouTube also struggle with deepfake scams.
Why It Matters
Deepfake scams erode trust in social platforms, risking user privacy and forcing celebrities to legally protect their likeness.