AI-generated videos sexualizing slavery posted to YouTube for profit
BBC News Brasil reported the discovery of at least 150 YouTube channels using AI-generated images to create fictional videos that sexualize and romanticize slavery in Brazil. The videos, accumulating 80 million views, present invented stories as historical facts and propagate racist and sexist stereotypes for monetization purposes.
What happened
BBC News Brasil identified at least 150 YouTube channels publishing fictional stories that sexualize and romanticize slavery in Brazil, with AI-generated ultrarealistic cover images and narration.
The videos accumulated approximately 80 million views and over 1 million subscribers combined, published in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and other languages from creators in Brazil, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, France and other countries.
Titles promised to reveal shocking or unknown episodes of slavery and presented invented stories as documented facts, with videos repeating characters, keywords, images and script structures.
Reported impact
Experts analyzed the material and stated the videos romanticize slavery violence, reinforce racist stereotypes and present fabricated historical narratives.
The content targets monetization through sensationalist narratives depicting sexual violence against enslaved people.
Index analysis
The systematic production involved AI-generated images showing muscular Black men alongside white women, designed to attract views and engagement on the platform.
One successful video frequently led to dozens of similar ones, indicating algorithmic amplification of the content.
Governance controls
YouTube stated it removes productions violating its guidelines and desmonetizes offenders.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.