Meta under fire as ARCON battles AI-Driven fake ads featuring pastor Adeboye, Customs auction scams

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has started investigating fake online ads using the images and voices of well-known Nigerians without their permission.

In a statement released on Tuesday, ARCON’s Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, said that the council found several fake videos and pictures being shared on Facebook and Instagram.

These videos falsely show Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), and Channels TV journalist Seun Okinbaloye promoting false medical treatments and other scams.

According to ARCON, one fake video used Pastor Adeboye to advertise a false cure for prostate cancer, while another showed Mr. Okinbaloye promoting a treatment for erectile dysfunction. There were also fake ads claiming the Nigeria Customs Service was auctioning seized cars and bags of rice.

Dr. Fadolapo explained that these fake ads were created using artificial intelligence (AI) to make it look and sound like the people involved were actually speaking. He warned that these fake materials are meant to deceive the public and are part of a growing trend of unethical digital advertising.

All the fake content was found on Meta-owned platforms—Facebook and Instagram. ARCON said it may take legal action against Meta and others involved in spreading the ads. The council has also created a special team to watch for similar ads and act quickly when they appear.

ARCON urged Nigerians to report suspicious ads and promised to keep working to make sure advertising in Nigeria remains honest and safe for the public.

This action comes as more people around the world are raising concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence in digital content.