Deepfake videos impersonated optometrist to promote myopia-reversal eyedrops on TikTok
Deepfake videos using AI technology impersonated optometrist Joseph Allen on social media to falsely promote unapproved myopia-reversal eyedrops from a Chinese company. Despite Allen's efforts to remove the content through TikTok, the scammers quickly reposted it on new accounts, spreading health misinformation to vulnerable consumers.
What happened
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating optometrist Joseph Allen (Dr. Eye Health) spread across TikTok and other social media platforms. The videos falsely promoted myopia-reversal eyedrops that Allen had never endorsed.
The deepfake content told viewers not to see eye care providers and claimed the profession was a scam. Allen worked with legal counsel to challenge the content, but after one account was deplatformed, scammers created a new account and reuploaded the content within two or three hours.
Reported impact
The deepfake videos posed a danger to people with serious eye conditions searching for help online. The eyedrops were tracked back to a Chinese company selling millions of dollars in product on Amazon, with questions remaining about the content of the drops.
Allen noted the videos were low-effort, algorithm-driven content exploiting social media engagement algorithms to spread dangerous health misinformation.
Index analysis
The deepfake videos exhibited tell-tale signs of AI generation including mismatched lip-sync with audio, unnatural blinking patterns, and unnatural lighting. As AI progresses, such detection signs may become more subtle or even corrected.
Governance controls
It took Allen a month to contact TikTok and another three weeks to prove he was the legitimate 'Dr. Eye Health.' One account was subsequently deplatformed, but the platform did not prevent rapid reupload of the same content.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.