Taylor Swift Deepfakes Used to Push Scams on TikTok

Scammers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to create convincing deepfakes of celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Rihanna, in order to promote scams on TikTok. According to authentication company Copyleaks, these AI-generated videos are being used to deceive users into participating in rewards programs that promise financial gain. The ads typically feature the celebrities in familiar settings, such as red carpets, podcasts, or talk shows, and often manipulate real footage using AI.

Many of these ads promote rewards programs that claim users can earn money by watching TikTok content and providing feedback. Some of the ads even incorporate TikTok's official branding, although they ultimately redirect users to third-party services that request personal information. In one example, a highly realistic AI avatar of Taylor Swift urges users to sign up for a program that promises to pay them for engaging with TikTok content.

The authenticity of the deepfake is likely to catch many users off guard, making them more susceptible to the scam. Copyleaks' findings highlight the growing concern over the misuse of AI-generated content to deceive and manipulate people online. The use of deepfakes to promote scams raises significant concerns about the potential for AI-generated content to be used for malicious purposes.

As AI technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see increasingly sophisticated attempts to deceive people using deepfakes and other forms of manipulated media. TikTok has faced criticism in the past for its handling of scams and misinformation on the platform. The company will likely face renewed scrutiny in light of Copyleaks' findings, and may be forced to take additional steps to prevent the spread of AI-generated scams.