Meta Failed to Stop AI ‘Nudify’ Ads from Chinese Partner, Report Finds
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, allowed thousands of advertisements for AI-powered ‘nudify’ apps to run on its platforms, according to a new report by the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project (TTP). These ads violated Meta's own policies and were delivered through one of its advertising partners in China, GatherOne Inc.
GatherOne, based in Beijing, helps Chinese companies advertise on Meta’s social media services. Over recent months, it was responsible for about 7,600 ads promoting mobile apps that can superimpose women’s faces onto nude bodies or create sexualized videos. The report highlights one Chinese-made app that users have flagged for sharing child pornography.
Meta’s advertising rules explicitly ban sexually suggestive content and apps that claim to ‘strip’ individuals in photos. However, the TTP report indicates repeated failures by major tech companies, including Apple and Alphabet, to curb such apps. Regulators, victims, and families worldwide have called for stronger action against deepfake pornography services.
“Meta appears to be giving a free pass to one of its top Chinese advertising partners when it comes to nudify ads,” said Katie Paul, TTP’s director. While Instagram and Facebook are blocked in China, they remain valuable tools for Chinese businesses targeting global audiences. Paul argued that Meta’s actions contradict its stated policies and suggest revenue concerns override user safety.
Meta’s head of women’s safety policy, Cindy Southworth, said, “We do not allow non-consensual intimate imagery or nudify apps on our platform and we take aggressive steps to combat them.” A Meta spokesperson added that all advertisers must comply with their standards, and violations can lead to ad cancellation, financial penalties, or account termination.
GatherOne stated it complies with Meta’s policies and international laws, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against deceptive practices, adult content, non-consensual explicit AI material, child exploitation, and fraud. The company said it is suspending new advertising accounts for AI nudifying and face-swap services and is conducting a compliance upgrade to address synthetic media evolution.
TTP, a research arm of the nonpartisan Campaign for Accountability, published the report on Monday. It provides a rare insight into how Meta derives revenue from China, a country where its services are unavailable. Chinese companies selling products abroad use intermediaries like GatherOne to buy ad placements on Meta’s platforms.
Meta reported $18.4 billion in revenue from China for the year ending 2024, representing 11% of its global revenue—more than double its 2022 figure. The company has not disclosed China-specific revenue since then. Former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams testified before Congress in 2024 that Meta offered censorship tools to China and aided its AI development. Her 2025 memoir, Careless People, details her time at the company. Meta did not respond to requests for comment on her testimony.
