Meta Takes Legal Action Against Deepfake Fraud Using Brazilian Celebrities
Meta launches lawsuits in Brazil against deepfake creators exploiting celebrity images like Drauzio Varella and Maira Cardi to advertise fraudulent health products and teach deceptive marketing tactics.
- • Meta is suing groups using AI-created deepfakes of Brazilian celebrities to promote illegal health products.
- • Celebrities targeted include Drauzio Varella, Maira Cardi, Luiz Bacci, and Maiara.
- • One defendant, Daniel de Brites, taught courses on creating deceptive ads using celebrity images and voices.
- • Meta aims to protect consumer safety and uphold advertising integrity by legally pursuing these fraudulent practices.
Key details
Meta is aggressively combating the misuse of artificial intelligence in Brazil by suing individuals and groups who create deepfake videos of celebrities to promote fraudulent and unregulated health products. The lawsuits focus notably on two factions: one using deepfaked endorsements from celebrities to sell illegal health items, and another offering courses teaching how to produce these deceptive digital ads.
Prominent Brazilian figures targeted in these scams include renowned doctor Drauzio Varella and influencer Maira Cardi, whose images and voices have been manipulated to falsely endorse health products. Other public personalities misused include Luiz Bacci and singer Maiara.
One defendant, Daniel de Brites, operates a platform called Britesflix where he reportedly taught techniques for creating fake advertisements and 'virtual sellers' by manipulating celebrity images and voices, charging around R$1,000 for these courses. The court has ordered him to remove his videos following a report by UOL, although he denies creating deepfakes and claims his teachings are legitimate digital marketing methods. Meta continues to seek accountability, emphasizing the protection of consumer safety and the integrity of advertising policies.
This legal action underscores Meta’s growing commitment to curbing the misuse of generative AI technologies that facilitate deceptive advertising and violate health regulations. By targeting those who exploit celebrity likenesses to promote illegal products, Meta aims to stop harmful misinformation and fraudulent marketing practices in Brazil.
According to reports, as of now, defendants like Daniel de Brites have yet to respond to Meta’s lawsuit, but the company remains firm in its effort to hold parties responsible for these digital deceptions.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Defendants named in the lawsuit
Sources mention different individuals involved in the lawsuit
urbnews.com.br
"Daniel de Brites is one of the defendants accused of making deepfakes of Drauzio Varella."
meioemensagem.com.br
"One individual named in the lawsuit, who runs a digital marketing education platform, claims that the techniques taught were intended solely for creating sales characters."
Why this matters: Source 336846 specifically names Daniel de Brites as a defendant accused of creating deepfakes of Drauzio Varella, while Source 336850 does not mention him and instead refers to a general individual running a digital marketing platform. This difference affects understanding of who is directly implicated in the legal action.