AI Deepfake Misinformation on TikTok Impersonates Health Experts

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The information displayed in the AIM should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries.

Multiple cybersecurity reports reveal an AI disinformation campaign on TikTok and Instagram. Cyber groups like ESET Latin America and Kaspersky warn of deepfakes simulating health professionals to falsely endorse supplements and treatments, posing risks to public health by misleading consumers.[AI generated]

Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?

The campaign employs generative AI (deepfakes) to impersonate medical experts, disseminate dubious health recommendations, and drive sales of unapproved supplements and medications, causing tangible harm through medical misinformation and consumer deception. This constitutes an AI Incident, as the AI system’s use has directly led to potential injury and fraud.[AI generated]
AI principles
SafetyTransparency & explainabilityRobustness & digital securityAccountabilityHuman wellbeingPrivacy & data governance
Industries
Media, social platforms, and marketingHealthcare, drugs, and biotechnologyConsumer productsDigital security
Affected stakeholders
Consumers
Harm types
Physical (injury)Public interestEconomic/PropertyReputational
Severity
AI incident
Business function:
Marketing and advertisement
AI system task:
Content generation

Articles about this incident or hazard

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Deepfakes en TikTok difunden desinformación médica con avatares creados con IA

2025-04-10
welivesecurity.com
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The campaign employs generative AI (deepfakes) to impersonate medical experts, disseminate dubious health recommendations, and drive sales of unapproved supplements and medications, causing tangible harm through medical misinformation and consumer deception. This constitutes an AI Incident, as the AI system’s use has directly led to potential injury and fraud.
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alertan por una campaña de desinformación con avatares creados con inteligencia artificial

2025-04-11
esdelatino.com
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The use of generative AI to create realistic avatars for active disinformation and financial fraud constitutes an actual realized harm. By impersonating medical experts and recommending unproven treatments, these AI‐driven deepfakes have directly led to deception, potential health risks, and financial losses. This meets the criteria for an AI Incident, as the AI system’s use is pivotal to the harm.
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Advierten sobre la difusión de desinformación médica con avatares creados con inteligencia artificial (IA) a través de TikTok - La Hora de Salta

2025-04-11
La hora de salta
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The article details how AI systems (deepfake generation tools and avatar‐creation applications) are directly used to spread medical disinformation, impersonate trusted experts, and scam viewers into buying ineffective or unapproved products. These actions constitute realized harm—including consumer deception, financial fraud, and potential physical health risks—making it an AI Incident.
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Ojo con lo que ves en TikTok, no todo lo que brilla es oro: Avatares IA difunden información falsa

2025-04-11
Colombia.com
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
This is a realized harm: AI systems (avatar generators and deepfake tools) are being misused to deceive and defraud consumers, constituting a direct AI incident involving misinformation, impersonation, and financial harm.
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Estafadores crean avatares médicos en TikTok; desinforman y venden productos milagro

2025-04-12
SinEmbargo MX
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
Scammers employ an AI content-generation system to produce deepfake videos of supposed medical professionals recommending unproven supplements. This misuse of AI has directly enabled fraudulent medical advice and the sale of products without scientific backing, posing real risks to people’s health and finances. As the harm is ongoing (users are being deceived and purchasing products), it constitutes an AI Incident.
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Deepfakes en TikTok: difunden desinformación médica con avatares creados con IA

2025-04-13
agenciaorbita.org
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
This is a direct case of AI misuse: generative AI systems produce fake video/audio avatars that imitate medical experts, leading to deceptive marketing and potential health harms. The harm (medical misinformation and consumer fraud) is materializing now, so it constitutes an AI Incident.