On October 2, 2025, OpenAI unveiled Sora, a social media app that has already sent shockwaves through both the tech world and broader society. Unlike TikTok or Instagram Reels, which rely on user-recorded video, Sora’s entire feed is made up of AI-generated clips—some eerily lifelike, others unmistakably synthetic. But while the platform’s ability to conjure up a pirate in outer space or James Bond at a poker table has delighted early adopters, the technology’s potential for misuse has ignited intense debate among legal experts, copyright advocates, and privacy watchdogs.
Getting in on Sora isn’t as simple as downloading an app and signing up. Currently, access is tightly controlled: new users need an invite code from an existing member, and the app is only available on iOS. Those eager to join can request a notification for open enrollment, but for now, Sora remains an exclusive club. The app runs on OpenAI’s latest Sora 2 generation engine, which can transform a simple text prompt into a video clip within minutes. The result? Lifelike, sometimes uncanny content that mimics the viral style and energy of today’s most popular internet videos.
But Sora isn’t just about passively watching AI creations. Users can modify each other’s videos by tweaking the original prompt, creating a branching network of “remixes.” This collaborative, iterative approach is reminiscent of meme culture, where one idea quickly morphs into countless variations. Yet, the process is entirely text-driven—no cameras required. Instead of recording themselves, users simply describe what they want to see, and Sora’s engine brings it to life. According to OpenAI’s launch post, the app is designed to prioritize content from friends and people users already follow, encouraging a sense of community and shared creativity.
However, joining Sora means entering deeply into OpenAI’s ecosystem. Deleting a Sora account isn’t straightforward: the option is buried in the settings, and doing so wipes out not only your Sora data but also your ChatGPT profile, conversations, and API usage. The company warns, “All your data, including profile, conversations and API usage across ChatGPT and Sora, will be removed. You cannot reuse the same email or phone number for a new account.” This tight integration has raised eyebrows among privacy advocates, who question how much control users really have over their digital footprints once they join the platform.
One of Sora’s most talked-about features is “cameo.” This tool lets users upload images or videos of themselves, which the AI then uses to generate personalized video content. Want to see yourself riding a dinosaur or starring in a music video? Sora can make it happen. OpenAI says this feature is highly customizable—users control who can use their likeness, can revoke access at any time, and can remove any video that includes their image. “With cameos, you are in control of your likeness end-to-end with Sora. Only you decide who can use your cameo, and you can revoke access or remove any video that includes it at any time,” the company emphasizes. Videos containing your cameo, including those created by others, are always viewable by you.
Yet, for all these assurances, the technology’s darker side is already making headlines. According to The Wall Street Journal and GadgetReview, Sora 2’s advanced video generation can simulate complex scenarios with disturbing realism. Experts warn that the app can fabricate videos depicting people committing crimes—like shoplifting—with convincing facial expressions, mannerisms, and even a person’s distinctive walk. Imagine security footage emerging that appears to show you committing a crime you never did. As GadgetReview puts it, “Sora 2 delivers enhanced realism and control over video content, capable of generating complex scenarios like Olympic gymnastics routines. That level of sophistication means it can just as easily fabricate footage of criminal activity.”
This ability to create “deepfakes” is not just a theoretical concern. The app has already seen remixes featuring famous faces like Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy. The risk is clear: in an era when video evidence often carries decisive weight in courtrooms, how will judges and juries distinguish between genuine security footage and AI-generated fabrications? As the GadgetReview article notes, “Fake videos of people committing crimes could undermine evidence and due process.” Defense attorneys and prosecutors alike now face the daunting task of proving the authenticity of video evidence—a challenge that didn’t exist at this scale just a few years ago.
OpenAI has tried to get ahead of these concerns by rolling out safety measures and moderation policies. The company claims to prioritize user control and transparency, especially with the cameo feature. But critics argue that the real privacy violation happens much earlier—when images and data are scraped from social media, news articles, and public records to train the AI. As GadgetReview points out, “Your image exists in countless photos across social media, news articles, and public records—all potential training data for AI systems you never consented to participate in.”
Copyright issues have also surfaced within hours of Sora’s launch. Users are already generating videos featuring protected characters like Mario, Ronald McDonald, and Lara Croft. According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI’s current approach requires copyright holders to opt out individually, submitting examples of infringing content for removal. There is no blanket opt-out, and so far, no clear mechanism to prevent the appearance of copyrighted material before it’s flagged. This piecemeal strategy has left intellectual property advocates frustrated, warning that the burden should not fall on rights holders to police a rapidly growing platform.
Meanwhile, the race between AI-generated content and detection technologies is heating up. As Sora’s video generation capabilities advance, tools for authenticating real versus fake footage are struggling to keep pace. Experts liken this to the ongoing battle between spam filters and spammers—except now, the stakes involve personal reputations, legal outcomes, and even national security. The question, as GadgetReview bluntly asks, isn’t whether this technology will be misused, but whether society can adapt its legal and social frameworks fast enough to handle the consequences.
OpenAI’s Sora is a marvel of modern technology, blending creativity and connection with unprecedented realism. But as the platform’s user base grows and its capabilities become more widely known, the risks—from deepfake crimes to copyright violations—are impossible to ignore. The next chapter in social media may be written by AI, but the story’s ending will depend on how quickly lawmakers, courts, and the public can catch up.
