Dead Users POSTING on Meta — Horrifying AI Plan
Meta has secured a patent for artificial intelligence technology that could allow deceased Facebook and Instagram users’ accounts to continue posting, liking, and commenting autonomously—raising alarming questions about digital manipulation, consent, and the exploitation of grief for corporate profit.
Story Snapshot
- Meta received a patent in December 2025 for AI technology that simulates deceased users’ social media activity using large language models trained on their past posts and interactions
- The technology could autonomously generate content and interact with living users through posts, comments, direct messages, and likes—all without human oversight
- Despite holding the patent, Meta claims it has “no plans to move forward,” though experts warn the business incentive for more engagement and data collection remains strong
- University experts caution this technology undermines healthy grief processing and raises profound ethical concerns about consent, authenticity, and the commodification of death
Patent Details and Corporate Intentions
Meta Platforms was officially granted a patent in late December 2025 for artificial intelligence technology designed to keep social media accounts active after users die or take extended breaks. Filed initially in 2023 with Meta’s Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth listed as the primary author, the patent outlines how large language models could be trained on a user’s historical social media activity—posts, comments, likes, and messaging patterns—to autonomously generate content that mimics their communication style. The AI system could interact with other users by posting updates, commenting on friends’ content, and even sending direct messages, all without any human intervention from the deceased person or their family.
The Business Case Behind Digital Resurrection
Edina Harbinja, a digital rights expert at the University of Birmingham Law School, identified Meta’s underlying motivation for developing this technology. She explained that the patent serves a clear corporate purpose: generating more engagement, more content, and critically, more data for training current and future AI systems. This represents a troubling evolution from Meta’s 2015 legacy contact feature, which simply froze deceased users’ accounts while allowing friends to share memories. The new patent transforms death from an endpoint into a business opportunity, maintaining user engagement metrics that drive advertising revenue even after someone passes away. Meta’s platforms already face criticism for flooding feeds with AI-generated content, and this patent would exponentially increase that artificial content by resurrecting the digital presence of millions of deceased users.
Expert Warnings on Psychological Harm
Joseph Davis, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia, issued a stark warning about the psychological dangers this technology poses to grieving individuals. He stated plainly that one of the essential tasks of grief is to face the actual loss, adding that society must “let the dead be dead.” Davis emphasized that AI tools simulating deceased loved ones could fundamentally alter how humans experience and process grief, potentially creating unhealthy dependencies on digital simulations rather than accepting loss and moving forward. This concern highlights a disturbing trend where Big Tech companies prioritize engagement metrics and data collection over the mental health and emotional well-being of their users, exploiting one of humanity’s most vulnerable moments—the loss of a loved one.
Questions of Consent and Control
The patent raises critical concerns about consent that strike at the heart of individual liberty and family rights. Families would face ethical dilemmas about whether to activate AI versions of deceased relatives, and followers would interact with AI-generated content without clear disclosure that they’re not engaging with genuine human expression. Meta has grappled with digital legacy management for roughly a decade, but this patent represents a dramatic shift from preservation to active simulation. The power dynamic is troubling: Meta holds complete control as both patent holder and platform operator, while users and their families have minimal say over how their digital identities are managed posthumously. This exemplifies the overreach conservatives have warned about for years—unelected tech executives wielding unprecedented control over personal identity and family decisions.
creepy~~ META Granted Patent That Allows Facebook Users to Post After They Die https://t.co/pUSNk0JABb #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit
— Debra Dosch (@DebraDosch) February 18, 2026
Current Status and Future Uncertainty
Meta spokesperson statements to Business Insider assert the company has “no plans to move forward” with implementing this deceased user simulation technology, clarifying that patents are often filed to protect intellectual property without guaranteeing development. However, this denial offers little comfort given Meta’s track record and the significant business incentives at play. Mark Zuckerberg himself discussed similar concepts in 2023, acknowledging potential benefits while admitting such technology could become unhealthy. The patent remains granted and legally protected, meaning Meta could reverse course and implement it whenever corporate strategy dictates. Meanwhile, Microsoft patented similar AI chatbot technology in 2021, signaling that multiple tech giants are actively exploring this controversial space regardless of public opposition or ethical concerns.
Sources:
Meta Patented an AI That Dies and Keeps Posting – Futurism
Meta Granted Patent for AI LLM Bot for Dead, Paused Accounts – Business Insider