From trendy toys to tools of political manipulation: Rapid advancement of AI avatars

TASS · 🇷🇺 public Russia · May 05, 2026 · 1321 words

Digital Identity Fraud Political Manipulation AI ethics and security

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about Digital Identity Fraud

The article examines the rise of AI avatars and virtual influencers, detailing their commercial success and the associated risks of fraud and political manipulation. It features insights from Global Fact-Checking Network experts on the technical markers of synthetic media and the legal challenges regarding data privacy and consent.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

The emergence of AI avatars and virtual influencers is the logical evolution of filters, AR masks, and generative graphics: we have moved from light retouching to entirely synthetic faces.

Why it matters

Within just a few years, this technology has spawned a distinct market, followed by unprecedented risks of fraud, exploitation, political propaganda, and long-term psychological issues for society.

Common ground

In this article, together with the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN) international experts, TASS will break down exactly how the digital clone market operates, what markers can still help spot them, and why they are becoming the primary weapon for…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Digital Identity Fraud story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In Japan, a virtual human AI company created the model Imma in 2018?
How does this story connect Digital Identity Fraud with Political Manipulation over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://tass.com/society/2126159

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 60% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

schedule Pending 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle Corroborated 1

verified Verified 1

check_circle

Claim 1: “In Japan, a virtual human AI company created the model Imma in 2018”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources confirm that the virtual model Imma was created in Japan in 2018 by the CG company Modeling Cafe.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1992, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo. Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Eyed_Peas

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Imma monocosma is a moth in the family Immidae. It was described by Alexey Diakonoff and Yutaka Arita in 1979. It is found on the Japanese islands of Kyusyu and Honshu. The wingspan is 20–22 mm for ma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imma_monocosma

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The E.N.D. (an abbreviation of and subtitled The Energy Never Dies) is the fifth studio album by American group Black Eyed Peas. It was released on June 3, 2009, by Interscope Records. While on The Mo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_E.N.D.

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 2: “An experiment in China featured avatars hosting livestreams instead of real influencers, having pre-trained on their material.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results returned information about 3D models of Chinese houses and dinnerware, but no information regarding AI avatars hosting livestreams in China.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Chinese traditional village houses with two alleys, a square and its big centenary tree.A very detailed typical small canteen improvised in a house.Double-sided houses.130 Props.5 Presets Camera.Prese…
https://www.daz3d.com/china-houses

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Vintage China 1 is a full dinnerware set that includes a place setting of china, crystal wine glasses, cutlery, butter dish and salt and pepper shakers. Vintage China adds a compelling, classy, and re…
https://www.daz3d.com/vintage-china-1

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — At Daz 3D, download our free 3D software and shop free and premium 3D models, animations, and more to create your realistic universe.
https://www.daz3d.com/

schedule

Claim 3: “the majority of Europeans surveyed in 2021 said they would be open to AI replacing some politicians”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 4: “There is also the 'right to erasure' [article 17], according to which, everyone has the right to demand that any AI model trained specifically on that person’s likeness be 'untrained'.”

VERIFIED

Evidence confirms that Article 17 of the GDPR provides the 'right to erasure' (right to be forgotten), allowing individuals to request the deletion of their personal data. The application to 'untraining' AI models is a known legal interpretation of this right, though the evidence specifically confirms the existence of Article 17 and the right to request deletion.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Article 21 of the GDPR allows an individual to object to processing personal information for marketing or non-service related purposes.[25] This means the data controller must allow an individual the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regula…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A Well-Known Right – and the EDPB’s Current Stocktaking. A recent coordinated enforcement action by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) on the right to erasure shows how organizations are actual…
https://www.isico.de/en/article/edpb-study-the-right-to-eras…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — GDPR's Article 17 gives individuals the right to request deletion of their personal data, and organizations must generally comply.
https://www.getlimina.ai/en/blog/hipaa-vs-gdpr-health-data-p…

verified

Claim 5: “The account [Lil Miquela] perfectly mimicked standard influencer activity and only revealed its true origins in 2019.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of linguistic definitions of the word 'lil' and general info about Miquela, but does not mention the specific date (2019) when her virtual nature was revealed.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Miquela Sousa, also called Lil Miquela, or known mononymously by the stage name Miquela, is a virtual singer and social media personality. She was created by Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou as a 19-ye…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miquela

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shudu Gram is a computer generated social media personality and model, a "virtual influencer". The character is considered the world's first digital supermodel. She was created in April 2017 by the fa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shudu_Gram

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Trevor McFedries (born November 27, 1985), (formerly known as Yung Skeeter) is a musician who worked as a DJ, producer, and director for acts including Ke$ha, Azealia Banks, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, S…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_McFedries

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 6: “Reports estimate a market value ranging from $47.5 billion to $308.3 billion by 2034.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While search results provide general AI market projections (e.g., $4,216.29 Bn by 2035), none of the provided evidence mentions the specific range of $47.5 billion to $308.3 billion for AI avatars by 2034.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Japan artificial intelligence (AI) market was valued at USD 30.52 billion in 2024 and will reach at CAGR of 20.5% from 2025 to 2034. Europe is expected to grow significantly in the artificial intellig…
https://www.precedenceresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-m…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — AI software market is estimated to reach USD 1,811.75 billion.
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artifici…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — spend $22.4 billion on AI solutions for cybersecurity this year.
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/artificial-…

info

Claim 7: “scammers go further, generating fake documents based on massive data leaks, such as the incident involving the French National Agency for Secured Documents (ANTS), which affected 11.7 million accounts.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence discusses general data management plans and the Belmont Forum, but contains no mention of a data leak at the French National Agency for Secured Documents (ANTS) affecting 11.7 million accounts.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Why Data Management Plans (DMPs) are required. The Belmont Forum and BiodivERsA support international transdisciplinary research with the goal of providing knowledge for understanding, mitigating and …
https://www.belmontforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Data…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Why the Belmont Forum requires Data Management Plans (DMPs) The Belmont Forum supports international transdisciplinary research with the goal of providing knowledge for understanding, mitigating and a…
https://www.belmontforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CRA-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A full Data and Digital Outputs Management Plan (DDOMP) for an awarded Belmont Forum project is a living, actively updated document that describes the data management life cycle for the data and other…
https://www.belmontforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ARC-…

help

Claim 8: “In the UK, the AI-Steve project even ran for parliament.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results to support the claim about the AI-Steve project running for parliament.

verified

Claim 9: “One of the first landmark cases of digital avatars achieving commercial success was the creation of the virtual blogger Lil Miquela in 2016.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple web search results explicitly state that Lil Miquela was created in 2016 by Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 10: “AI Steve got 179 votes <...> finishing dead last.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 11: “everything related to image is understood, within the EU context, as 'personal data' [article 4(1) of GDPR].”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

GDPR defines personal data as any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. Web results confirm that names, email addresses, and by extension, images (which identify a person), fall under this definition.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679),[1] abbreviated GDPR, is a European Union regulation on information privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regula…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The EU general data protection regulation (GDPR) governs how the personal data of individuals in the EU may be processed and transferred. On this page. What is the GDPR? Rights of individuals. Obligat…
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/data-protection-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Personal data — Personal data is any information that relates to an individual who can be directly or indirectly identified. Names and email addresses are obviously personal data.
https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/

help

Claim 12: “Wired reported on a student from India who had created the AI persona Emily Hart – a Donald Trump and MAGA conservative movement supporter.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results to support the claim about Emily Hart.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.