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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Vinay Patel

1,100 Phones, Zero Humans: Inside the Hack That Exposed TikTok's Shadow Ad Machine

A hack on the startup Doublespeed has uncovered a secretive network of 1,100 smartphones used to run hundreds of AI-generated TikTok accounts. (Credit: Pexels)

Recent discoveries of phone farms reveal a massive operation where AI-generated influencers are saturating TikTok with hidden advertisements. These automated accounts mimic real creators so effectively that many viewers fail to realise they are watching a programmed marketing campaign.

As technology advances, the line between genuine content and silent digital promotion continues to vanish.

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