Fake Video Endorsing Crypto Site Sparks Concerns Over Digital Security*
Prince William has reportedly become the target of an AI deep fake scam, which falsely portrays him endorsing a cryptocurrency website accused by researchers of defrauding customers.
The Prince of Wales, alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, appeared in a deceptive ad campaign on Facebook, seemingly backing a product. However, these videos were AI-generated fakes, designed to lure individuals into contacting financial scammers, according to research by media insight firm Fenimore Harper.
In one viral video, the AI-generated William is seen stating: "Good afternoon, honored citizens of the United Kingdom. I am pleased to announce that I, Prince William, and the entire Royal Family fully support Prime Minister Keir Starmer's initiative and his new platform."
Media expert Marcus Beard told Newsweek that while the palace may be hesitant to take immediate action against the scammers or Meta, they may be forced to respond as AI-generated fakes become more widespread. "It highlights how easily their images can be misused," Beard noted. "In time, this issue may become unavoidable as the royals continue to attract significant online traffic."
Those who click on the fraudulent ad are reportedly asked to provide personal information, including their name, email address, and phone number, before being contacted and encouraged to deposit funds into a fake online trading platform.
A Meta spokesperson told The Independent: "Our systems detected and removed the vast majority of these adverts before this report was published. It is against our policies to run ads that improperly use images of public or political figures for deceptive purposes, and we remove these ads when detected."
Google also responded to the situation, with a spokesperson stating: "Our advanced spam-fighting systems help keep Google Search 99 percent spam-free, despite ever-evolving attempts from spammers. We have clear spam policies against deceptive tactics, and when we find behavior that violates our policies, we take action."
