[Tech] - Bank of England warns of AI scams as deepfakes of Farage-Bailey fight spread | Guardian

In June 2026, the Bank of England issued a public warning regarding the rise of AI-generated scams following the circulation of deepfake videos depicting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey in a physical fight. The incident highlights the growing threat of synthetic media being used to impersonate public figures and exploit the public.

What happened

The deepfake videos appeared on the social media platform X, depicting Farage and Bailey fighting on the set of the BBC program Question Time. The footage showed the two men being separated by police officers, with one sequence even depicting Farage holding a gun while grappling with the governor.

Governor Andrew Bailey publicly addressed the situation, noting that fake advertisements impersonating the Bank of England and other central banks are increasing. He urged the public to remain vigilant and report such content to help authorities remove the fraudsters responsible. Farage also addressed the posts on X, confirming that the videos were bizarre AI fabrications and stating that he would never engage in such violence, regardless of his economic disagreements with Bailey.

The Bank of England has raised concerns about these posts with Reform UK and social media platforms. The incident occurs amidst a broader discussion regarding the UK’s Online Safety Act, which includes provisions for platforms to tackle fraudulent advertising, though these specific duties are not scheduled to take effect until next year. The spread of these videos underscores the increasing proficiency of AI video technology in depicting individuals realistically, contributing to what experts have described as a wild west of online scams.