San francisco demands Meta halt ai-generated child abuse ads

San Francisco's city attorney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Meta, demanding the company stop allowing paid ads with AI-generated child sexual abuse content. The letter asks Meta to explain how these ads, including over 350 in recent months, repeatedly ran on its platforms. Some ads featured confirmed real minors, including a member of a European royal family, and directed users to download AI image- and video-generation apps. City Attorney David Chiu criticized Meta for inadequate efforts, while Meta claims the ads were outside its jurisdiction. The letter demands Meta stop the ads, explain how they bypassed moderation systems, and detail how it addresses repeat offenders. Katie Paul, director of the Tech Transparency Project, stated Meta is not effectively addressing the issue, as new ads featuring the same children continue to appear. The findings suggest broader systemic problems within Meta's detection and moderation systems.