New Companies Linked to ‘Nudify’ Apps That Ran Ads on Facebook, Instagram – Bellingcat

Meta’s Suit Against Hong Kong Firm Was Just the Beginning – More Companies Linked to CrushAI ‘Nudify’ Apps Content warning: This story discusses non-consensual deepfake nude imagery. On the surface, Crushmate appeared to be one of many artificial intelligence “girlfriend” or “companion” apps. Its multiple websites said it specialised in “crafting the AI girl of your dreams”, and on Google and Apple’s app stores, it was described as an “AI chat product designed to provide users with a comprehensive emotional support and communication experience”.  But ads linked to the app on popular social media platforms showed it was offering an entirely different service – making nonconsensual nude images of real women. Meta announced last week that it was suing Joy Timeline HK Limited (“Joy Timeline”), the Hong Kong-based company it said was behind a group of deepfake “nudifying” apps under “CrushAI” – including Crushmate – to prevent it from placing ads on its platforms. This was following a 404 Media report in January that CrushAI had bought thousands of ads on Instagram and Facebook, using multiple fake Facebook profiles to evade Meta’s moderators.  However, a Bellingcat investigation has uncovered two additional companies in Hong Kong and China – Soul friendship HK
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