AI-Generated Deepfake Videos of Eckart von Hirschhausen Promote Fake Medications
AI-generated deepfake videos circulating online show German doctor and television journalist Eckart von Hirschhausen endorsing medications, with his voice and lips convincingly synthesized. Consumers deceived by the videos purchased the promoted medications and lost money, while Hirschhausen's reputation and that of the television programmes were damaged.
What happened
Videos circulating online depict Eckart von Hirschhausen, a doctor and television journalist, endorsing specific medications including weight loss pills, heart medications, and erectile dysfunction treatments.
The videos are created with AI using deepfake technology, featuring Hirschhausen's voice described as 'almost perfectly matched' and lip-synced with images from television programmes 'Markus Lanz' and 'Maischberger'.
Credulous citizens ordered the medications promoted in the deepfake videos and subsequently discovered they had been defrauded.
Reported impact
People who fell for the deepfakes lost money by ordering the promoted medications.
The deepfakes undermine the credibility of Hirschhausen as a public figure and of the television programmes from which footage was taken, which are intentionally ad-free.
Hirschhausen stated the deepfakes erode public trust in media, institutions, and people.
Index analysis
Hirschhausen called for legal and regulatory action, warning that without intervention it becomes increasingly unclear whether a public figure actually said something.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.