AI-generated deepfakes target Vietnamese celebrities with false arrest claims
AI-generated deepfake videos falsely claimed that MC Quyền Linh and other Vietnamese celebrities had been arrested, circulating on social media fanpages in early December 2025. The celebrities issued public denials, and experts warned of the growing danger of synthetic media abuse used to deceive the public and create fraudulent advertising content.
What happened
Starting from 7-8 December 2025, social media fanpages circulated AI-generated videos and posts claiming that MC Quyền Linh was arrested, with titles such as 'Bắt khẩn cấp Quyền Linh vì bán hàng kém chất lượng' and 'MC Quyền Linh chính thức bị bắt giữ.' The videos used AI technology to create deepfakes with blurred, edited appearances designed to resemble the celebrity, though viewers noted facial movements that betrayed the synthetic origin.
Quyền Linh issued an urgent statement denying the claims, confirming he had completed work commitments in Hanoi and was attending a film association meeting. He called on the public to 'remain alert and selectively choose information' when encountering such content online.
The incident is not isolated. Actress Nhật Kim Anh faced similar false claims of being arrested or evading prosecution. Multiple other Vietnamese artists including Đức Phúc, Cát Tường, Đàm Thu Trang, Mỹ Tâm, Hồ Ngọc Hà, and news anchor Hoài Anh reported being victims of AI-generated impersonations of their images and voices for fraudulent advertising purposes. In August 2025, actors Đại Nghĩa and Quốc Trường warned of deepfake audio and lip-sync manipulation used to solicit investment and promote illegal projects.
Reported impact
The false arrest claims caused confusion and concern among the public and colleagues. Many of Quyền Linh's contacts sent him links to the false information, and viewers commented during his livestream expressing relief that 'it was not true.'
Communication experts warned that the spread of such content and AI-generated deepfakes poses serious dangers, with victims' representatives calling on authorities to intervene against legal violations. Multiple artists warned of the serious impact on their reputations and called for public vigilance.
Index analysis
The incident exemplifies the vulnerability of public figures to synthetic media abuse on social media platforms. Deepfake videos with deliberately blurred or edited appearance can still deceive audiences, particularly when accompanied by sensational claims designed to spread rapidly.
The coordinated targeting of multiple Vietnamese celebrities suggests either a systematic campaign or a widespread trend of fraudulent use of AI deepfakes for social manipulation and deceptive advertising.
Governance controls
Communication experts advised users to verify information sources and prioritize reputable news channels to avoid becoming victims of harmful misinformation. Quyền Linh and other targeted artists urged the public to exercise critical discernment when encountering unverified content online.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.