AI-Generated Deepfakes of Slovenian Doctors Promote Fake Medicines
Slovenian doctors' identities are being used without consent to create AI-generated deepfake videos promoting unproven medicines. The Medical Association reports the deepfakes are spreading via social media and foreign servers, posing risks to public health and trust in the medical profession.
What happened
Unknown actors have been creating AI-generated deepfake videos of prominent Slovenian doctors without their knowledge or consent. The deepfakes alter the doctors' original statements and replace them with fabricated content promoting unproven 'miracle medicines' and dietary supplements.
The Slovenian Medical Association (Zdravniška zbornica Slovenije) identified at least nine doctors whose identities were abused this way, including Zlatko Fras, Tadej Battelino, Bojana Beović, Alojz Ihan, Erik Brecelj, and David Zupančič. The association states it has reported each case to the market and health inspectorates, the Public Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (JAZMP), and police.
Fake webpages and posts featuring the deepfakes have spread rapidly, often hosted on foreign servers and promoted through paid advertisements on social media.
Reported impact
The Medical Association warns the deepfakes mislead the public with claims about product effectiveness that lack scientific basis and undermine public trust in the medical profession.
The association states the deepfakes pose a serious threat to public health by discouraging people from official medicine.
Index analysis
Doctors do not publicly advertise specific medicines by name or promise miraculous cures with particular products or supplements, the association emphasizes.
Governance controls
The Medical Association is reporting cases to market and health inspectorates, the Public Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices, and police. The association has repeatedly warned that the deepfakes represent a serious abuse of doctor identities.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.