5 days ago
Liv McMahon Technology reporter
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Reform leader Nigel Farage has called on X to act over a series of fake, AI-generated adverts which depict him fighting Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey.
The ads - showing the Reform leader and Bank of England governor in a number of fake scenarios, on a set resembling BBC Question Time - have been repeatedly shown to X users in the UK in recent days.
Farage told reporters on Tuesday that Reform UK contacted X on Monday "to the highest level" - adding he hoped it would take action to remove the ads "incredibly quickly".
The BBC has approached X for comment.
It comes after the Bank of England also urged X users to report the ads, where seen.
"Unfortunately, fake adverts impersonating the Bank of England and other central banks are on the rise," said Governor Andrew Bailey in a statement.
"These scams are designed to criminally exploit the public, especially the vulnerable, when they are online."
He urged the public to stay vigilant and "report these scams".
"That way authorities can better root out digital deception like this and permanently remove the fraudsters responsible for what is a truly online scourge."
The ads have repeatedly appeared to users on X in recent days, and show the two men arguing or fighting.
Some of the promoted posts falsely depict Farage kicking, grabbing and lunging after Bailey on BBC Question Time, with some imagery also displaying bruising on their faces.
"You may have seen some bizarre AI videos on this platform today," Farage wrote in a post on the platform on Monday evening.
"Whilst Andrew Bailey and I have our disagreements, I would never take it that far!"
Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to Grangemouth on Tuesday, he added that he did not know "whether to laugh or whether to be angry" about the fake ads.
"The trouble is it's an AI fake but it looks real in every way, and people know that the governor and I have had our disagreements over things over the years," he said.
BBC/X
One of the ads which appeared on this reporter's timeline had received 10,000 views, according to X's own metrics
Staying vigilant
Many of the adverts viewed by the BBC were posted by X user accounts with blue ticks - a symbol indicating a subscription to the platform's Premium tier.
Platform owner Elon Musk previously touted changes to the verification badge as "the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over" after buying Twitter.
False AI ads of Farage and Bailey seen by BBC News also often displayed a fake "play" button to suggest they were a video that could be played by clicking on it.
BBC/X
"What's happened?" frequently appeared as a caption alongside fake AI images in the adverts
By hovering over the links for some of the original posts used in the adverts, the BBC was able to identify that many of them would direct people to sites promoting AI cryptocurrency trading schemes or apps.
In guidance on its website , the Bank of England says that neither it and its staff endorse or advertise any products.
"We are aware of videos and adverts on social media platforms that appear to show senior Bank representatives endorsing investments or financial products. These are not genuine," it says.
The Bank also says if you see such content you should not click on it or invest - instead report the post or advert on the platform, and then to Action Fraud .
Additional reporting: Ewan Somerville
Read the full article at BBC News (UK) →📄Source document: Statement from Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England
4 reports
BBC News (UK)State / PublicCenter12 days agoNigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has stated that his party has contacted X (formerly Twitter) at the highest level regarding a series of AI-generated advertisements depicting him in confrontational scenarios with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. The ads, which have been shown repeatedly to X users in the UK, were described by Bailey as scams designed to exploit the public, particularly the vulnerable. The Bank of England has urged users to report such content, and the BBC has sought comments from X.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly favoring any side. It reports on the issue of fake AI ads involving a prominent political figure and includes statements from both Nigel Farage and Andrew Bailey. There is no evident loaded language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing that would indicate
Official sources cited
- organisation Statement from Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England
The Guardian (UK)IndependentCenter12 days agoThe Bank of England has issued a warning about the increasing prevalence of AI-generated scams, particularly deepfake videos featuring Nigel Farage and Governor Andrew Bailey engaged in a fictional altercation. These videos were shared on social media platforms such as X. Bailey emphasized the need for vigilance and encouraged the public to report such scams to help authorities combat digital deception.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the Bank of England's warning regarding AI scams without overtly favoring any political side. It includes quotes from both Andrew Bailey and Nigel Farage, providing balanced perspectives. There is no evident bias in the language used or the selection of sour
The IndependentIndependentCenter12 days agoNigel Farage and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey have criticized deepfake social media advertisements appearing on X, which falsely show them in a physical confrontation. These ads led to fabricated news stories claiming Farage confronted Bailey on BBC’s Question Time. The content promotes investment schemes labeled as 'scams' by Bailey. The Bank of England has reported the videos to X and informed Reform UK. Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender described the scheme as part of a global, coordinated investment scam linked to Russian-language criminal actors.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both Nigel Farage's and Andrew Bailey's responses to the deepfake issue without overtly favoring either side. It includes quotes from both individuals and cites cybersecurity experts without apparent bias. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the facts of the situation and多方
Official sources cited
- press release Nigel Farage
- press release Andrew Bailey
- press release Bitdefender
Daily MailIndependentCenter12 days agoNigel Farage denied involvement in AI-generated deepfake videos showing him in a physical altercation with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. The fabricated content, shared widely on X, depicted Farage as aggressive toward Bailey, including scenes where he appears to brandish a gun or strike Bailey. Farage clarified that while he disagrees with Bailey, he would not engage in such behavior. Bailey stated the deepfakes were created by scammers aiming to mislead the public.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both Nigel Farage's response and Andrew Bailey's statement without overtly favoring either side. It reports on the incident objectively, describing the deepfakes and their potential misuse without editorializing or using biased language.
United Kingdom