# Meta ordered to remove UK deepfakes as oversight board criticises 'inadequate' safeguards

> Meta's oversight board ruled the company failed to remove AI-generated videos targeting a Scottish councillor and Muslim campaigner, citing weak protections against deepfakes.
- Title: Meta ordered to remove UK deepfakes as oversight board…
- Summary: Meta's oversight board ruled the company failed to remove AI-generated videos targeting a Scottish councillor and Muslim campaigner, citing weak protections…
- Keywords: meta, facebook, deepfakes, ai-generated content, oversight board, content moderation, scotland, labour councillor, muslim campaigner, harassment, misinformation, women in public discourse
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/17/meta-ordered-remove-deepfakes-oversight-board-inadequate-safeguards
- Published: 2026-09-17T14:43:34+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: meta, facebook, deepfakes, ai-generated content, oversight board, content moderation, scotland, labour councillor, muslim campaigner, harassment, misinformation, women in public discourse
## Meta's oversight board orders deepfake removal
Meta's quasi-independent oversight board ruled the company must remove AI-generated videos of a Scottish Labour councillor and a Muslim campaigner from Facebook, saying the videos violated content policies.
## The fake refugee video that stayed up
A deepfake video falsely showed a Scottish councillor saying refugees should be welcomed despite committing sexual assault. Meta initially refused to remove it, even after the board flagged it directly.

> Refugees are welcome here, even if they rape our women, because white people do that too.
## Muslim campaigner mocked in viral deepfakes
An AI-generated video mocking a young Muslim woman's menstrual health campaign received tens of millions of views on Meta platforms. The board ordered it removed for breaching bullying and harassment policies.
## Women face disproportionate deepfake harassment
The board found that women engaging publicly on issues are targeted by AI-generated fakes designed to harass and silence them. Deepfakes are increasingly used as a tool to discourage women from participating in public discourse.

> AI-generated deepfakes are increasingly being used to harass and silence women from engaging in public discourse.
## Board recommends nine policy changes
The oversight board called for Meta to demote high-risk AI content in feeds, add warning screens before viewing deepfakes, expand labeling rules, and increase penalties for repeat offenders.
## Meta's safeguards called fundamentally inadequate
The oversight board concluded Meta's protections against AI deepfakes are consistently inadequate to address their rapid rise. The company needs more robust policies across all its platforms.

> Meta's safeguards were "consistently and fundamentally inadequate" to address the rapid rise of AI deepfakes.
## Key takeaway

Meta's safeguards against deepfakes are fundamentally inadequate, and the company needs stronger policies to remove harmful AI-generated content and reduce its spread.