The social media platform TikTok and various online networks are featuring artificially created manipulated clips of medical professionals whose statements have been manipulated to promote dietary products and circulate false medical claims.
The Investigation
A factchecking organisation has discovered numerous of these types of clips including impersonated versions of physicians and online personalities directing viewers to a US-based wellness company.
Each of the deepfakes involve real footage of a medical authority taken from the internet. However, the pictures and audio have been modified so that the individuals are encouraging women going through a life stage to purchase items such as probiotics from the firm's online store.
“This represents a sinister and worrying new tactic,” stated the investigator who undertook the research.
Professionals Impersonated
Prof David Taylor-Robinson is among those whose likeness has been misused. He was surprised to discover that doctored videos claiming to depict him endorsing items with unverified claims were being hosted online.
Though he is a specialist in pediatrics, in one video the cloned version of him was talking about an supposed symptom. The fabricated version suggested that women visit a website and purchase a natural probiotic featuring herbal ingredients chosen to tackle menopausal symptoms.
“It was very disorienting to begin with – entirely bizarre,” the real professional said. “I did not feel intensely wronged, but I did become more and more irritated at the idea of people selling products based on my reputation and the false medical advice involved.”
Platform Response
The social network removed the videos a period of time after reports were lodged. “Initially, they indicated some of the videos broke their rules but some were fine. That was absurd – and weird,” the professional stated.
Investigators also identified similar deepfakes on other major platforms, all linked to the aforementioned wellness company.
Firm's Denial
The company in question told investigators that deepfake videos encouraging people to visit its website were “completely unrelated” with its business. It claimed it had “never used synthetic media”, but “cannot control affiliates around the world”.
Demands for Action
Political figures have said that “From fraudulent physicians to automated accounts that encourage suicide, AI is being used to prey on innocent people.”
“Were these individuals deceptively posing to be medical doctors they would face legal charges. How is the online version being tolerated?” one representative asked.
There are demands for synthetic impersonations masquerading as healthcare workers to be “stamped out”, with clinically approved tools strongly promoted.
A Shared Problem
A representative for the video-sharing app said: “Harmfully misleading AI-generated content is an problem across the tech sector, and we are investing in new ways to detect and remove content that violates our community guidelines.”
