Kenya: The Algorithm Will See You Now - Deepfake Doctors and the Commodification of Care in…

On December 5, 2025, an investigation highlighted the growing misuse of AI to impersonate medical professionals, including Professor David Taylor-Robinson, whose likeness was manipulated to promote supplements for menopause. This incident reflects a broader trend of deepfake doctors appearing on platforms like TikTok to exploit public distrust in healthcare.

What happened

The attack involves creating AI-generated videos of individuals appearing to be medical doctors. These digital puppets share medical insights regarding conditions such as PCOS or menopause before recommending specific herbal supplements for purchase. The content often features unnatural visual cues, such as strange lighting, swirling effects, or static panelists, which are used to mask the synthetic nature of the video. In many instances, these accounts actively suppress dissent by deleting warning comments from viewers and blocking individuals who challenge the authenticity of the medical advice. By mimicking the authority of clinicians, these scams target vulnerable populations who may be disillusioned with traditional healthcare systems or seeking more affordable alternatives to standard treatments. The trend has expanded beyond individual scams, with reports of hospitals, such as one in South London, alerting the public to false endorsements of weight-loss products by their staff. The proliferation of this content is facilitated by accessible generative AI tools, allowing scammers to bypass traditional barriers to entry and reach large audiences on social media platforms.