A deepfaked Apple CEO Tim Cook during the iPhone 16 livestream, tricking viewers into believing that Apple was endorsing a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme. The incident highlighted the growing sophistication of deepfake technology and its potential for widespread fraud.
AI is getting WAY too good
355k people watching a fake “apple” account on @youtube that’s promoting a massive crypto scam lol
The reason there are so many viewers is because the keynote today at 12pm cst@YouTubeCreators pic.twitter.com/O2ufpxdKnF
— BearPig 🧸🐷 (@BearPigCentral) September 9, 2024
During the livestream, the deepfake impersonator appeared on screen, seemingly live from the Apple event. The impostor, who was indistinguishable from the real Tim Cook, announced a partnership between Apple and a fictitious cryptocurrency platform. The fake CEO urged viewers to invest in the cryptocurrency, claiming it would offer substantial returns.
🚨Breaking 🚨
Apple US YouTube channel hacked? There is a fake Ai video of TimCook streaming on it asking for bitcoin. 😱#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/b2DOyhxBLL
— Abhishek Bhatnagar (@abhishek) September 9, 2024
Thousands of viewers were deceived by the deepfake, with many immediately investing in the fraudulent cryptocurrency. The scammers behind the scheme quickly amassed millions of dollars in stolen funds before disappearing.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security of online events and the potential for deepfakes to be used for malicious purposes. Experts warn that deepfake technology is becoming increasingly advanced and difficult to detect, making it a major threat to individuals and businesses alike.
@AaditDoshi we really appreciate you bringing this to our attention. mind reporting the video in the official reporting tool if you haven't yet? this page has more info on how to do that:
