Social media trolls have targeted a man with a genetic skin condition after an artificial intelligence bot mistakenly assumed he was wearing a 'zombie costume'. The wave of online vitriol began when Dean Clifford posted an image of himself and his mother at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Facebook and Instagram last Friday night.
Hateful Comments and Misunderstandings
The post was inundated with abusive remarks directed at his appearance, which is affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic disorder that causes the skin to become extremely fragile and blister from even minor friction or injury. Clifford told 7NEWS that many comments compared his appearance to 'horror characters', with some even saying 'that I should be dead'. In the days following the post, he has been receiving a social media notification approximately every 30 seconds, most of which are hateful.
Meta AI Adds to the Problem
Adding to the ordeal, Meta's artificial intelligence suggested the prompt 'what's the story behind the zombie costume?' to users viewing the image. Clifford, who uses social media to raise awareness about EB and as a platform for his motivational speaking, is now reconsidering his approach to online platforms. He is believed to be one of the oldest living individuals with EB, having outlived his childhood doctor's prediction that he would not see beyond the age of five by 40 years.
Apology from Meta
In response to the incident, Meta issued an apology: 'We're sorry to hear about Mr Clifford's experience and sincerely apologise for any distress caused. These prompts were generated automatically and may not always produce the results intended. We take this matter seriously and constantly seek feedback on our AI products and models to make them better over time. People can report AI-generated content they find inappropriate using our in-app reporting tools.'
Clifford has been reflecting on the recent abuse and 'childhood memories of people that have been afraid of my appearance', leading him to rethink his social media strategy. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to spreading awareness about Epidermolysis Bullosa and inspiring others through his resilience.
