Billionaire Andrew Forrest Criticizes Facebook Over New Deepfake Video
9News
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Details
- Date Published
- 2 Feb 2024
- Priority Score
- 2
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 8 Mar 2025, 02:41 pm
Description
<p>The deepfake video used a genuine Forrest chat that was uploaded to the Rhodes Trust and manipulated it into a cryptocurrency scam.</p>
Summary
Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest has strongly criticized Facebook for its inadequate measures against deepfake scams. His remarks follow the emergence of a deepfake video that uses his likeness to promote a cryptocurrency scam. The incident highlights the significant challenges posed by deepfake technology in safeguarding the public against fraud. Although the issue directly impacts Australia, it also underscores global governance challenges in regulating AI-generated content and platforms' responsibilities. Efforts like Forrest's legal action against Facebook demonstrate the urgent need for policy reforms to protect individuals from technology-enabled scams.
Body
Billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has slammed Facebook for not doing enough to prevent scams after a new deepfake video began circulating online.The deepfake video used a genuine Forrest chat that was uploaded by the Rhodes Trust and manipulated it into a cryptocurrency scam.Cybertrace experts uncovered the fake video on Facebook.READ MORE:Two tickets claim record $200 million Powerball jackpotA genuine Andrew Forrest video uploaded to Rhodes Trust YouTube.(Supplied)"It was quite sophisticated in one sense but then again the video quality was quite poor," Cybertrace CEO Dan Halpin said."Certain software can detect a deepfake and that's the type of technology that the social media giants need to employ."Forrest said it was reprehensible that Facebook made a deliberate business decision to harm Australians by refusing to spend the software engineering dollars needed to upgrade their systems to detect these AI ads.READ MORE:Woman finds Australia's deadliest snake coiled around her cat's neckA deepfake impersonation of Forrest.(Supplied)The billionaire has criminal charges pending against Facebook for another alleged crypto advertising scam using his image."Facebook does nothing – that's what I hope the legal actions I started will address, to make social media companies liable for the negligent way they run their ad platforms," Forrest said in a statement."I commenced legal proceedings almost two years ago out of concern for the innocent Australians being scammed on Facebook.READ MORE:Phone 'thrown on tracks' before couple killed by freight train"It is as important now as it was in 2019 when we first demanded Facebook be accountable for what transpires on its platform."The legal actions were taken on behalf of those everyday Australians – mums and dads, grans and grandads – who work all their lives to gather their savings and to ensure those savings aren't swindled away by scammers."I want social media companies to use more of their vast resources and billions of dollars in annual revenue to protect vulnerable people – the people who are targeted and fall victim to these horrible scams with their hard-earned savings."