Meta platforms ran more than 300 ads containing suspected child sexual abuse material between November 2025 and August 2026. The Tech Transparency Project (TTP) identified the content on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Some advertisements featured morphed images of real children, including a minor from a European royal family.
Many of these ads promoted nudification apps linked to advertisers in China. The investigation, first reported by Wired, found that the content bypassed Meta’s review systems and reached thousands of users.
Meta stated the content is horrific and claimed it is working aggressively to combat the issue. The company recently deployed new AI technology to improve detection and blocking of such ads. These findings have prompted calls from lawmakers for a formal investigation.