ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Taylor Swift Deepfake Ads on TikTok Exploit Celebrity Likeness

ai-technology · 2026-04-29

Researchers have uncovered a wave of deepfake advertisements on TikTok that use AI-manipulated footage of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna to deceive users into sharing personal data. The ads, which appear as legitimate interviews, are part of a broader scam operation exploiting generative AI to create convincing fake content. Taylor Swift's recent trademark filing for her likeness underscores the growing threat of unauthorized digital replicas. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger platform policies and legal protections against AI-generated impersonation.

Key facts

  • Deepfake ads on TikTok use AI-manipulated celebrity interviews.
  • Taylor Swift and Rihanna are among the celebrities targeted.
  • Scammers aim to trick users into sharing personal data.
  • Taylor Swift filed to trademark her likeness.
  • The ads appear as legitimate interview footage.
  • Generative AI enables creation of convincing fake content.
  • The research was conducted by unnamed researchers.
  • The story was reported by Wired.

Entities

Artists

  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna

Institutions

  • TikTok
  • Wired

Sources