Hundreds of sexual deepfake ads on social media using Emma Watson, Scarlett Johansson's identity

Over the past few days, hundreds of sexual deepfake app advertisements starring actors Emma Watson and Scarlett Johansson appeared on Facebook and Instagram. The technology used to create false pornography of famous individuals—and increasingly, everyday people as well—appears to have been promoted without any problems by the Masters of the Universe.

According to an NBC News story, a recent Facebook advertisement featured a woman who perfectly resembled Emma Watson leaning down in front of the camera and appearing to commence a sexual act.

Yet the woman wasn't really the Harry Potter actress. The movie was actually a promotional piece for the deepfake software, which lets users insert any face into any video of their choosing. Making fake pornography of famous people frequently makes use of deepfake technologies.

The report stated that the advertising campaign, which lasted on Sunday and Monday, released more than 230 commercials on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

Although there were no actual sex activities in the advertisements, they were provocative in nature and designed to look like the opening of a pornographic video. Pornhub's entrance tune was even playing in the background.

127 of the advertisements that used celebrity faces instead of real people's included Watson, while another 74 featured Johansson.

"Replace face with anyone," read the caption of 80 of the advertisements. “Enjoy yourself with AI swap face technology."

An analysis of the app itself showed that it provides users with different video themes that feature scantily clad men and women posing and dancing. By choosing a template or uploading their own, users can insert a photo of anyone's face and instantly receive a face-swapped version of the film.

The app's developer, Ufoto Limited, is listed in the App Store as charging $8 per week for it. Wondershare, the app's Chinese parent company, owns Ufoto Limited.