Bulgarian Church warns of AI-generated video falsely…

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has issued an official warning regarding a manipulated video circulating on Facebook that falsely utilizes the likeness and voice of Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech. The Chancellery of the Holy Metropolis of Lovech has categorically denied the legitimacy of the content, stating that the Metropolitan has never advertised any medical remedies, products, or services.

What happened

The incident involved the use of artificial intelligence to replicate the appearance and voice of Metropolitan Gabriel in a misleading manner. The video, which appeared on social media, depicted the Metropolitan providing an endorsement that was entirely fabricated. The Metropolis emphasized that the Metropolitan had no connection to the production of the video and that its message was inconsistent with Orthodox spirituality and Church teachings.

In response to the malicious manipulation, the Metropolis has officially notified competent authorities and requested the immediate removal of the fraudulent material. The Church has urged the public to exercise caution when encountering such content online to avoid being misled by synthesized media.