Deepfake Doctors: AI-Generated Scams Target Australian Health

Australia is facing a surge in deepfake scams targeting the health of its citizens. AI-generated videos featuring prominent doctors and celebrities are promoting the purchase of unproven supplements, prompting many to abandon their prescribed medications. Dr. Norman Swan, a well-known Australian doctor, has become a victim of this trend, with his likeness used in fraudulent endorsements. "People are stopping their medications and being scammed out of a lot of money based on these fake endorsements," Dr. Swan stated in the ABC News Australia report. The report also includes an AI expert, Patricia Hauieiss, who demonstrated how easily these hyper-realistic videos can be created, noting, "Deepfake technology is becoming more and more easy and accessible." The ease of creation and the potential for significant harm underscore the urgent need for better detection tools and increased public awareness. Governments and social media platforms must collaborate to combat this growing threat to public health.