Deep fake video using the face and voice of the Prime Minister spreads on social media

A manipulated video (or a deep fake - Deepfake*) featuring the face and voice of Prime Minister, Acad. Nikolai Denkov, is being circulated on the social media network Facebook, the Council of Ministers said on October 4.

The video appears to be an address to the nation and aims to improperly collect personal data of users as a prerequisite for participation in an investment scheme. To enhance the perception of authenticity, the fake video is presented as an excerpt from a news feed.

The Prime Minister has never called on anyone to provide their personal details on any occasion. Citizens are cautioned not to provide their personal data on social media networks on any occasion, and to report suspected cybercrimes to the Chief Directorate for Combatting Organised Crime by sending an e-mail to report@cybercrime.bg or calling 0885 525 545.

Artificial intelligence-generated fake news videos have flooded social media in recent weeks. In two of them, the faces and voices of the hosts of the BNT newscast - Adelina Radeva and Angel Bonchev - were used.