Market

Meta has taken legal action against a company which runs ads on its platforms promoting so-called "nudify" apps, which typically using artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake nude images of people without their consent.

It has sued the firm behind CrushAI apps to stop it posting ads altogether, following a cat-and-mouse battle to remove them over a series of months.

"This legal action underscores both the seriousness with which we take this abuse and our commitment to doing all we can to protect our community from it," Meta said in a blog post.

Alexios Mantzarlis, who authors the Faked Up blog, said there have been "at least 10,000 ads" promoting nudifying aps on Meta's Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Mr Mantzarlis told the BBC he was glad to see Meta take this step – but warned it needed to do more.

"Even as it was making this announcement, I was able to find a dozen ads by CrushAI live on the platform and a hundred more from other 'nudifiers'," he said.

"This abuse vector requires continued monitoring from researchers and the media to keep platforms accountable and curtail the reach of these noxious tools."

In its blog, Meta sad: "We'll continue to take the necessary steps – which could include legal action – against those who abuse our platforms like this."

'Devastating emotional toll'

The growth of generative AI has led to a surge in "nudifying" apps in recent years.

They have become so pervasive that in April the children's commission for England called on the government to introduce legislation to ban them altogether.

It is illegal to create or possess AI-generated sexual content featuring children.

But Matthew Sowemimo, Associate Head of Policy for Child Safety Online at the NSPCC, said the charity's research had shown predators were "weaponising" the apps to create illegal images of children.

"The emotional toll on children can be absolutely devastating," he said.

"Many are left feeling powerless, violated, and stripped of control over their own identity.

"The Government must act now to ban 'nudify' apps for all UK users and stop them from being advertised and promoted at scale."

A second man has admitted setting a pub on fire shortly before Christmas more than two years ago.

The Green Man in Clophill, Bedfordshire, was severely damaged, and eight people were taken to hospital on 21 December 2022.

Tony Button, 49, from Kempston, admitted arson with intent to endanger life at Luton Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on 24 July.

In May 2024, Ian Chalmers, 67, from Campton, also pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Chalmers was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years and was instructed to carry out 200 hours of community work and pay a £187 surcharge.

Ten men have been charged after a woman and a girl were badly burned in a house fire more than three years ago.

Emergency services were called the blaze on Beverley Drive in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, at about 23:00 GMT on 16 December 2021.

A 31-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The men are due to appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 9 June.

Ali Abbas, 22, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, is facing six charges, including two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Haris Mahmood, 20, of HMYOI Brinsford, Shakil Uddin, 22, of Oldham, Muhammed Sufyaan-Shah, 24, of Rochdale, Tayyeb Majeed, 23, of Longton, Lukman Khan, 23 of Longton; and Riyadh Iqbal, 22, of Normacot are also accused of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life, among other charges.

Naveed Hussain, 31, of Longton, is charged with violent disorder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Kashif Ahmed, 24, of Abbey Hulton and Bilal Ahmed, 26 of Normacot were both charged with violent disorder.

A black kite has been returned to a bird of prey centre after being found more than 100 miles (161km) from home.

Herrings Green Activity Farm said Tango had been chased off by two wild red kites during a display at its site in Wilstead near Bedford on 10 April.

He was spotted by a member of the public in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and flew back to his trainer when she travelled to the area on Tuesday and whistled for him.

The farm said: "We can't express how happy we are to have him and just can't believe how far he had travelled."

"We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone. If it hadn't been for all your sharing of the post and sighting reports we may have never brought him home," it added.

He was hatched at the farm about seven years ago and was described by trainers as "a real sweet bird that is no threat to anybody".

He had been fitted with a radio transmitter that should have shown his location but this was found in a field close to his flying ground.

Tango has since been returned to his home with the other birds and been fed.

Epsom residents are attempting to block a council's access to a site where it plans to build temporary housing.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council obtained planning consent to build three temporary homes at a former builder's yard on Fairview Road in November despite objections from the street's residents.

HM Land Registry is now considering residents' application to prevent the council accessing the yard on the grounds that the road is privately owned.

Steven McCormick, who chairs the council's planning committee, said the local authority "remains confident" it has the right to access the site.

The council applied for right of way on the street in September, based on the long-term use by the site's previous occupant Adrian Giles.

Anyone can claim access rights if they have used a route for 20 years without requiring permission or using force, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Debbie Ransome, who lives next to the site, claims Mr Giles forfeited access when he moved his business from the road and handed the land back to the council in 2016.

Mr Giles has declined to comment.

Ms Ransome, a long-time opponent of the homes project, added that it would be "detrimental to hundreds of school kids" who use the road as a cut through to the nearby Glyn School.

Pedestrian safety concerns were discussed by councillors before the planning application for the houses was approved, according to McCormick.

He said the development will "allow the council to house local families facing homelessness within the borough, close to schools and local support networks".

He added: "The council has followed the process laid out by the Land Registry.

"Residents have challenged the Land Registry's decision, but the council remains confident in its position. The council refutes any further allegations."

A Land Registry spokesperson said it was unable to comment on whether or not the council could legally access the site from Fairview Road.