Meta sues over deepfake health fraud in Brazil and China
Meta filed lawsuits against individuals and companies in Brazil and China accused of using deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities and sell fraudulent health products and investment schemes. A Brazilian oncologist whose image was used in the deepfake fraud stated the legal action was insufficient to address the scale of health fraud occurring on the platform.
What happened
Meta announced on February 27, 2026 that it filed lawsuits against four dishonest advertisers who impersonated celebrities and known brands to deceive and defraud users on its platforms in Brazil and China.
In Brazil, Meta sued Daniel de Brites for leading an alleged operation using deepfakes of a renowned physician to promote health products without regulatory approval. Brites also sold courses teaching the same fraudulent tactics, promising students daily earnings of up to 1,000 reals (approximately 200 US dollars). Meta also sued Vitor Lourenço de Souza and Milena Luciani Sanchez for similar alleged practices.
In China, Meta sued Shenzhen Yunzheng Technology for using manipulated images of celebrities to attract users to alleged investment groups targeting users in the United States and Japan. Meta also sued Vietnamese company Lý Van Lâm for publishing false advertisements for luxury wallets attributed to the brand Longchamp.
Reported impact
Brazilian oncologist Drauzio Varella, whose image was used without authorization, stated that Meta's legal actions were insufficient, describing them as 'a drop of water in an ocean' regarding fraud in public health. Varella also asserted that digital platforms benefit economically from the mass dissemination of these fraudulent contents.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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