A Facebook (FB) page posted an advertisement for a “prostatitis cure” featuring journalist Karen Davila and cardiologist Willie Ong. This is fake and manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI).
A reader asked VERA Files Fact Check to determine the legitimacy of the video advertisement uploaded on March 26. The 91-second video shows Davila supposedly interviewing Ong about the medicine. It also showed a “testimony” of a patient who supposedly benefited from the product.
At the 00:17-second mark, Ong can be seen and heard saying:
“Oo. Totoo. Ang Vitaman plus ay nakakapagpagaling ng prostatitis. Marami na akong gamot na inirekomenda pero itong Vitaman plus ang pinakasulit at mabisa sa lahat
(Yes. It’s true. Vitaman plus can cure prostatitis. I have recommended many medicines but this Vitaman plus is the most worth it and effective of all).”
Netizens were also encouraged to visit websites attached to the post where they can buy the product.
This is yet another AI-altered ad that fools netizens into visiting a website that sells unregistered health products promising instant cures.
The product Vitaman is not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.
Clips from Ong’s interview with Davila in 2021 were edited. The vlog revolved around Ong’s life and his bid for the vice presidency in 2022. They did not mention anything about the prostate disorder prostatitis or a cure for it.
The publisher used AI to imitate their voices and alter their mouth movements.
The patient’s testimony is also fake and AI-manipulated. It came from a 2019 Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho episode featuring a person with alcoholism.
VERA Files Fact Check has noted a rise in fake ads that make use of AI to imitate the voices and alter clips of famous personalities.
The ad posted five months ago is still gaining traction this August and has 8,400 reactions, 4,200 comments, 653 shares and 2,300,000 views.
