AI-generated Holocaust images posted by spammer network on Facebook
A BBC investigation revealed that AI-generated images falsely depicting scenes from Auschwitz are being posted on Facebook by a Pakistan-based spammer network profiting from Meta's monetization program. Holocaust preservation organizations report the content causes distress to survivors and families and distorts historical memory.
What happened
A BBC investigation found an international network of spammers posting AI-generated images of Holocaust victims on Facebook. The images depicted scenes such as a prisoner playing a violin or lovers meeting at concentration camp boundaries, purporting to show the inside of Auschwitz during World War Two.
The spamming network, tracked to Pakistan-based content creators including Abdul Mughees, profited through Meta's content monetization program, an invite-only system paying users for high-performing content. One account reportedly earned over $20,000 through social media monetization schemes.
Reported impact
Holocaust preservation organisations including the Auschwitz Memorial reported that the AI-generated images cause distress to survivors and families. The Auschwitz Memorial spokesperson said the practice turns the Holocaust into 'an emotional game' and characterised it as a 'dangerous distortion' of history.
The fake images accumulated tens of thousands of likes and shares on Facebook. The Auschwitz Memorial raised its concerns directly with Meta about the material.
Index analysis
The images are particularly harmful because there are only a handful of genuine photographs from inside Auschwitz during World War Two. The spammer network frequently shared fictional narratives alongside AI-generated images that distort historical truths, including fabricated stories about children in peril during the Holocaust.
Governance controls
Meta's content monetization program, which payments to users for high-performing content, was exploited by the network. The Auschwitz Memorial raised concerns about the images with Meta directly.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.