An investigation by The Verge has exposed a dark side of AI abuse on social media: virtual Black models generated to exploit viewers' sympathy to sell cheap items sourced from Shein.
How it works
These accounts use AI to generate appearances, voices, and even fake tears, posing as impoverished workers or struggling artisans. The goal is to lure viewers into clicking TikTok Shop links to buy dropshipped goods at heavily inflated prices. This tactic not only deceives consumers but also harms actual Black content creators, whose opportunities are hijacked by AI technology while community trust is eroded.
Why it matters
This serves as a stark warning about the sophistication of cybercriminals in the age of deepfakes. In Vietnam, where livestream shopping is becoming a multi-billion dollar industry, similar "AI-driven sales" schemes could soon emerge. Users need to equip themselves with skills to spot AI-generated images and voices, while remaining cautious of overly emotional stories attached to shopping links of unverified origins.