Facebook Deletes Page Following William Shatner’s Criticism of AI-Generated Fake News
Action was taken by Facebook against a page disseminating AI-generated misinformation after actor William Shatner expressed his concerns publicly. The renowned Star Trek star warned his followers about false news stories regarding his health circulating on Meta’s social media platform.
William Shatner’s Concern Over Fake News
On a Thursday post on X, Shatner revealed, “There is a page on @facebook that is using AI to create horrible fake news stories about me.” He specifically pointed out the page operated by The Beanstalk Functions Group, an entity purportedly located in South Africa. This page was alleged to have fabricated stories claiming he suffers from stage 4 brain cancer and is in a dispute with fellow actor Erika Kirk.
Shatner’s Failed Attempts to Address the Issue
William Shatner mentioned that he had reported the situation to Facebook but received no action from their support team. He stated, “Facebook Support will not remove the page,” even though the posts linked back to a website hosted on Next.js, a web development platform. Shatner also reached out to the CEO of Next.js’s parent company, seeking the removal of the misleading stories.
Facebook’s Response and Action Taken
A representative from Meta confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the page in question was removed for violating their policies. As of the afternoon of the reported incident, the Beanstalk Functions Group page was no longer accessible on Facebook.
Impact of Fake News on Shatner’s Life
- Shatner expressed frustration that the fake stories gained traction online.
- He emphasized that none of the fabricated accounts were true, yet they were convincing enough to mislead fans.
- The actor noted the irony of his fans spreading misinformation while the authors of these stories profited.
Reflecting on the implications of AI technology, Shatner commented, “This is the downside of AI and yellow journalism. While it can be a wonderful tool in the right hands, it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands.” He cautioned fans to verify information through his official channels.
Final Thoughts on the Incident
William Shatner shared that he initially wanted to publish his warning on April 1st but hesitated due to the potential for misunderstanding, given the date’s association with pranks. He concluded by expressing disbelief at how many fans were deceived by the misleading images and stories about him.
