Instagram Head Admits Platform Struggles to Combat Viral AI Content Thefts

POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — Instagram leadership has openly confessed that the platform lacks an immediate solution to counter a rapidly escalating trend involving artificial intelligence and content theft.

Over the past few weeks, a growing number of stand-up comedians and performance artists have reported finding their exact routines appropriated by accounts featuring attractive, AI-generated female avatars. In several instances, these deceptive profiles appear to function as promotional funnels for OnlyFans pages.

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, acknowledged the phenomenon after comedian George Brett Olson published a video highlighting an account that lifted his routine word-for-word. Mr Olson’s original material focused on societal anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence and automation in the workforce.

The infringing profile that targeted Mr Olson has successfully amassed 300,000 followers while providing external links to an OnlyFans account. Mr Olson noted that the issue extends beyond comedy, pointing out parallel cases where dance videos are hijacked and falsely attributed to AI-generated figures.

Other performers have echoed these concerns, including comedian Julia Jasunas, who discovered her material was used verbatim by an automated account. She expressed alarm that these AI bots are achieving viral status while audiences mistakenly believe they are interacting with genuine individuals. A separate account that appropriated Ms Jasunas’s material has accumulated 250,000 followers.

Responding directly on Mr Olson’s viral post, Mr Mosseri stated that implementing a blanket ban on AI-generated media is entirely impractical for the social media platform. He noted that distinguishing synthetic material will become increasingly difficult and conceded that not all AI content is inherently harmful.

However, the Instagram chief emphasized a commitment to routing visibility toward legitimate content creators. If an AI account is wholesale plagiarizing material, he noted the company needs to determine an appropriate course of action, admitting uncertainty regarding the exact steps but promising to consult internal teams.

In a subsequent reply following further public pressure, Mr Mosseri reiterated that the company remains uncertain how to handle the expanding issue effectively. While Instagram maintains established channels for reporting copyright violations, performers such as comedians and dancers rarely secure formal copyrights for their live routines beforehand.

To be clear, I am very worried about this trend, Mr Mosseri wrote, adding that the organization is actively evaluating potential remedies for what remains a complicated challenge. Existing copyright claim systems are insufficient because many independent creatives do not officially register their work, leaving officials searching for ways to assist artists without enabling malicious actors to file fraudulent takedown requests.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)