GROUP PAGES CAN BE GOOD FUN
Popular Facebook group pages started as common interest community sites online, formed by real people or companies. Some are public -- anyone can follow -- but they don't allow followers to post content on the site.
Here's a sample smaller public one (still with a 6-figure following). You can go to the "About" page on this site and see that it is moderated by an individual and based in The Netherlands.
Some group pages are private with volunteer administrators who work hard to moderate them.
Thanks to moderation, genuine group interest pages like these build a community of trust, and can attract large followings. Moderated pages often require waiting period to join -- a time consuming step that the page administration users to try to weed out bots and keep the page trustworthy.
WHEN GROUP PAGES GO WRONG...
The success of pages like these to attract large followings got the attention of scammers as well. Some of them tried to infiltrate pages with bot profiles and contributions featuring AI images. The moderated pages would reject these, or weed them out.
So the scammers started creating their own pages. These dubious Facebook pages typically have generic titles and no discernable moderation. Anyone can join. Dubious pages are full of stolen pictures (usually tagged as "great photo" or something similar) and AI generated images. Dubious pages have little or no information on the "About" page. Learn to recognize these red flags.
Fake pages share fake content. They exist to attract followers ... and get "likes and shares."
The proliferation of AI generated images -- all those "likes & shares" -- only normalizes them.
Many dubious group pages haven't just been attracting followers... they have been cultivating victims for scammers.
This video from the You Tube channel of journalist Christophe Haubursin breaks down the steps how pages like this are actually bot farms at work. This video is solid journalism, with time stamps to help find the different sections. Start viewing around 6:50 -- the "why are so many people seeing it" section -- for the bot farm info.
For a TLDW version of this breakdown, here are some screen grabs from a photographer friend's warning to their followers about these bot farm pages.. and what to look for...
A fake, AI-generated KFC ad has sparked major debate in the creative community — and it’s a moment every marketer should pay attention to.
"When director David Blagojevic posted a hyper-realistic AI-made KFC spot, it quickly went viral. But it didn’t take long for another director, Joris Noordenbos, to point out that many of the shots closely replicated real ads he had produced for KFC. The result? Accusations of plagiarism, a firestorm in the comments, and a bigger conversation around AI’s role in advertising.
For marketers, this moment highlights a few critical truths:
- AI can enhance creativity, but it doesn’t erase the need for credit and transparency
- Brands are vulnerable to the unauthorized use of their identity in AI-generated content
- The line between inspiration and imitation is thinner than ever
As AI tools evolve, so does our responsibility to use them ethically. Credit still matters. Brand integrity still matters. Let’s keep pushing boundaries with purpose!
Read more about this debate in Ad Age" https://adage.com/technology/ai/aa-fake-ai-generated-kfc-ad-causes-creativity-debate/?fbclid=
"ASPIRATIONAL" IS A PATH TO PROBLEMS
Some Facebook pages exists only to promote "aspirational" decor/decor. This use of AI generated images also lull the public into accepting "aspirational decor/products" as real and lures them to websites where scammers can sell inferior merchandise and collect payment info. Or use emotional "my kid made this" appeals to get engagement... and donations.
Previous posts on the blog about these problems: https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/08/beware-ai-image-generated-non.html
https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/08/deciphering-ai-images-clues-to-look-for.html
Recent examples....
This next screen grab is a sample of a general interest page used to post an AI generated image with "emotional appeal" call-to-action, that shares a link to buy a quilt...only the image is fake and the quilt pictured doesn't exist. Look at the website link. It may appears to be legit "Etsy" at first glance... but look closely!
Some Facebook pages feature nothing but "aspirational" decor/products. Instead of making it clear on each post that the images are AI generated, they link to websites bury that transparency on a "warning" page. They seem to know that consumers are being scammed through use of the images... why not label the images as AI generated from the start??
Legit Pages get hurt by these scams too!
POP QUIZ
Lots of info covered in this post -- care to take a pop quiz? Can you spot the clues that these ad images are AI generated?
These eyeglass ads may be legit. But do you really want to buy from companies that are using fakery to attract customers?
AI generated images are only possible due to art theft. And greed.
They are "tools" all right -- tools for scammers. Supplied by thieves. Be aware. Raise awareness.
This link from HumanAristryCampAIgn has news on proposed legislation regarding "deep fakes" in the works: https://www.humanartistrycampaign.com/news.
Concept Art Association has this advocacy page on their website https://www.conceptartassociation.com/advocacy
Info on the News/Media Alliance (formerly the Newspaper Assoc of America) "Support Responsible AI" campaign here: https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/support-responsible-ai-campaign/
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