Bank of England fighting Andrew Bailey deepfakes LBC report

On June 9, 2026, the Bank of England reported that AI-generated deepfake videos featuring Governor Andrew Bailey have been appearing as paid advertisements on the social media platform X. These deceptive clips, which depict fabricated confrontations between Bailey and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, are part of a broader trend of digital scams targeting the public.

What happened

The deepfake advertisements feature synthesized video content showing Andrew Bailey in a physical brawl with Nigel Farage on a set designed to resemble the television program Question Time. In the fabricated footage, the pair are separated by a police officer, with one version showing Farage holding a gun and sporting a black eye, while another shows a figure covered in green paint. The videos also falsely depict Bailey storming off the television set, despite the Governor having never appeared on the program.

These paid advertisements originated from various recently verified accounts, each possessing only a small number of followers. Bank of England staff have been actively reporting these videos to X for removal, and Governor Bailey has publicly urged users to remain vigilant and report such content to help authorities identify and remove the responsible parties. Bailey characterized these scams as an online scourge intentionally designed to criminally exploit vulnerable members of the public. Reports indicate that these incidents follow significant reductions in the platform's safety and moderation staff, which were implemented as part of widespread cost-cutting measures following the 2022 acquisition of the site by Elon Musk.