A scam using the image of the recently deceased actor Alain Delon to lure Internet users to an online casino has been viewed more than 2 million times on social networks, an AFP journalist noted on Wednesday.
Revealed on X by an account that fights against online scams, this video usurps the identity of the comedian who died ten days ago, using his voice and his image. “If you are watching this video, it is because I am already dead. I will give you 100,000 euros if you cannot win in my online casino,” says an imitation of the actor in this video.
The fake ad has since been deactivated, AFP journalists noted on Wednesday, but alternative videos featuring the actor and redirecting to the casino remain.
Asked by AFP, Meta had not responded by midday.
“Deepfakes”, content manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI), are fueling a wave of disinformation that is affecting many personalities such as the singing star Taylor Swift and is causing concern ahead of elections such as the American presidential election.
In late July, X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk faced a barrage of criticism after sharing a “deepfake” to his 192 million followers. It showed Kamala Harris and a voice imitating that of the Democratic candidate calling President Joe Biden senile and accusing him of “not knowing how to run the country at all.”
The death of Alain Delon, at the age of 88, has provoked a wave of reactions and tributes across the world. From Italy to Japan, via the United States, the actor’s disappearance has made the front page of several foreign dailies.
