AI deepfake videos impersonate medical misinformation debunker on TikTok
Deepfake videos impersonating Italian microbiologist Roberto Burioni appeared on TikTok promoting drugs and supplements, deceiving consumers who purchased products based on the fraudulent content. Burioni reported the fake account to TikTok, but it remained active on the platform.
What happened
Deepfake videos impersonating Roberto Burioni, a microbiologist and virologist known for debunking medical misinformation, appeared on TikTok promoting drugs, supplements, and therapies.
A fake TikTok account using Burioni's name and photo (@italianos) with over 26,000 followers and 71,000 likes hosted the fraudulent videos. Burioni stated he reported and flagged the account but it remained visible on the platform.
Reported impact
Burioni reported receiving emails from people who were deceived by the deepfakes and purchased products based on the fake videos, seeking his advice on how to use their purchases.
Burioni expressed frustration at the inability to stop the impersonation, noting the difficulty of combating deepfakes on social media platforms.
Governance controls
TikTok did not remove the fraudulent account despite Burioni's reports and complaints, according to Burioni's public statements.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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