Deepfake Video of Anthony Albanese Used in Scam Ads on YouTube
A deepfake video of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was used in scam advertisements on YouTube promoting a fake cryptocurrency trading platform called AUFIRST, requesting users invest $400 to access purported tax dividends. Google stated it had removed the ad, though critics questioned whether YouTube's moderation was adequate to prevent such fraudulent content.
What happened
A deepfake video of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared in scam advertisements on YouTube, in which he speaks with an American accent promising earnings of $35 per hour through automated cryptocurrency trading.
The ad directs users to a fake CTV website promoting a platform called AUFIRST, requesting a $400 investment to access purported tax dividends of up to $3,000 per month.
The scam ad ran on Australian televisions via YouTube, which accounted for 7.7 per cent of TV viewing in Australia in the first quarter of 2025.
Reported impact
Google stated the ad had been removed and that it prohibits ads falsely claiming endorsement from public figures.
Advertising professionals expressed concern that YouTube's moderation was insufficient, noting that traditional broadcasters would face lawsuits for running such advertisements.
Index analysis
This was not the first time Albanese's likeness was used in a scam ad; in November a Facebook video used artificially inserted audio to promote investment schemes.
Similar deepfake scam ads have targeted the likenesses and voices of billionaires Elon Musk, Andrew Forrest and Gina Rinehart, with Andrew Forrest taking Meta to court after his likeness was shown 230,000 times.
Governance controls
YouTube uses human and automated reviews to block or remove ads, removing 5.1 billion ads in 2024.
Google prohibits ads that falsely state endorsement from public figures, though critics questioned the effectiveness of these controls.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.