Hacker Takes Control of a16z-Backed Startup's 1,100-Phone Farm for AI-Generated TikTok Ads
By
grahamlee
5mo ago· 1 min readenNews
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Summary
A hacker gained control of a 1,100-phone farm operated by Doublespeed, an a16z-backed startup that uses AI-generated social media accounts to promote products on TikTok. The hack revealed that these AI accounts were promoting products without required advertising disclosures. The hacker reported the vulnerability to the company on October 31, but the company's response status is unclear.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledDoublespeed, a startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) that uses a phone farm to manage at least hundreds of AI-generated social media accounts and promote products has been hacked.
The hack reveals what products the AI-generated accounts are promoting, often without the required disclosure that these are advertisements.
The hacker, who asked for anonymity because he feared retaliation from the company, said he reported the vulnerability to Doublespeed on October 31.
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
