Deepfake Video Falsely Accuses Macedonian Actor Igor Djambazov of Violence
A deepfake video circulated on social media depicting Macedonian actor Igor Djambazov in a wheelchair and falsely accusing him of attacking pharmacists. The video used synthetic voice and fabricated imagery, causing distress to Djambazov and his family.
What happened
A deepfake video circulated on social media depicting Macedonian actor and entertainer Igor Djambazov in a wheelchair and falsely accusing him of attacking pharmacists, calling them 'bandits in white coats' because they opposed treatment by doctor Ilir Demiri.
The video was a composite of photographs of Djambazov in a wheelchair, a synthetic voice mimicking him, and footage of a fight in parliament. It included a fake news segment presented by a TV Telma journalist describing a fabricated scandal.
Reported impact
Djambazov received hundreds of messages from concerned people after the false video spread. His sister Tatjana Djambazov, an architect living in America, said she suffered a heart attack upon learning of the video.
Index analysis
The video fabricated a detailed false narrative in Djambazov's synthetic voice, claiming he had been in a wheelchair due to back pain and arthritis, and crediting doctor Ilir Demiri with his recovery. A commenter noted that the person shown attacking appeared to be someone named Toni Mihajlovski, suggesting the creators did not carefully construct the deepfake.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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