Facebook overrun with AI posts saying your faves are homophobic

If you’re a Facebook user, your feed may be plagued with homophobic posts about celebrities.

These posts targeting celebrities like Cher, Pink, and Mick Jagger were created by AI to spread disinformation, and while that should be obvious to many of the people involved in such posts, it only spreads anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment even further.

One fake post featured an AI-generated image of Cher, an LGBTQ+ supporter. Who is your real Facebook profile The piece includes the word “PRIDE” sandwiched between two Pride flags standing next to Donald Trump, as well as an AI-generated statue depicting her as the “goddess of pop.”

Many people commented that the post was clearly “fake” and said, “That can’t happen because she hates President Trump,” while one person seemed to believe it, writing, “Cher deserves this. She’s the greatest.”

Other fake articles quote celebrities including Cher, Pink and Pedro Pascal, saying, “Donald Trump is a tough guy. He’s brash, outspoken and unapologetic. But in my lifetime, no one has fought more for the heart and soul of America.”

Another fake post Mick Jagger claims he faces backlash for being homophobic: “Some fans claim the rock legend is boycotting homosexuals after comments circulating online saying children shouldn’t watch LGBTQ-themed cartoons.”

The fake post once again aligns with right-wing beliefs, which are reflected in the comments section, which reads, “He’s right.”

While these posts are all just a fraction of what’s out there and are easily disproved with a Google search, this isn’t the first time AI has been used to push fake LGBTQ+ news on Facebook.

Misinformation and disinformation, two distinct but intertwined concepts, have been part of the media ecosystem for as long as verifiable news has existed.

While misinformation refers to the spread of falsehoods due to genuine misunderstandings or mistakes, disinformation is far more sinister and instead refers to the process by which completely false information is intentionally created, propagated, and disseminated in order to advance a particular narrative or agenda to achieve a set of political goals.

Last year, divisive posts spread on the platform after two individuals took issue with conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel using they/them pronouns, including one claiming singer Sam Smith.

After Trump’s reelection, Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced it would eliminate its fact-checking program, which helped prevent misinformation and disinformation. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed the fact-checking amounted to “over-censorship.”

As a result, the LGBTQ+ community has often been at the forefront of disinformation, which has frequently been spread to align with right-wing beliefs.