Meta Oversight Board Orders Removal of Deepfake Ronaldo Video Amid Rising AI Scam Concerns

Meta’s Oversight Board has ordered the removal of a deceptive AI-generated video on Facebook featuring Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazário. The video falsely showed Ronaldo promoting an online gambling app called Plinko, claiming users could earn more than by working typical jobs in Brazil. Despite racking up over 600,000 views and being flagged by a user, Meta initially failed to prioritize or remove the misleading content. After internal appeals were dismissed, the case was escalated to the Oversight Board.

The Board ruled the video violated Meta’s Community Standards on fraud and spam and criticized the company for allowing it to be used in advertising. It emphasized that Meta’s policies prohibit using a celebrity’s likeness to deceive users. “This content should never have been approved for ads,” the Board stated, adding that only select teams within Meta could act on such deepfakes, revealing critical gaps in enforcement.

The case reflects growing concerns over the rise of AI-manipulated content used for scams, misinformation, and impersonation. Last month, actress Jamie Lee Curtis also called out Meta after her likeness appeared in a deepfake ad without her consent. Though Meta removed the ad, the original post remained live.

These controversies come as regulatory pressure mounts. In May, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Take It Down Act, requiring platforms to remove non-consensual AI-generated intimate content within 48 hours. The law responds to the increasing misuse of deepfakes, especially targeting public figures and minors.

As AI tools become more accessible, platforms like Meta are under intense scrutiny to apply anti-fraud policies more consistently and enhance content moderation to protect users from deceptive and damaging content. The Oversight Board's latest decision reinforces the need for stronger safeguards against AI-enabled misinformation.