South Africa: Deepfake AI Video of Renowned Prof Salim Abdool Karim Used to Promote Bogus Heart Medicine

1 July 2025
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)

"'The [deepfake video] has me saying anti-vax things... This company has just pounced on me, and they're not letting me go,' said Abdool Karim.

A deepfake video, generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, is using the likeness of the renowned South African physician Prof Salim Abdool Karim to push disinformation about Covid-19 vaccines and promote a bogus heart medicine on social media.

Abdool Karim, the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa), has refuted the contents of the video and reiterated that Covid-19 vaccines are safe.

"The [deepfake video] has me saying anti-vax things... This company has just pounced on me, and they're not letting me go. They are using me, and I think they're using me because it's good for their sales," Abdool Karim told Daily Maverick.

Caprisa said, "Neither Abdool Karim nor Caprisa have endorsed any medicines for any company."

Snake-oil remedy

It's the second time the scam company has used an AI deepfake video of Abdool Karim to market its product, with the previous video emerging around September last year. Before that, it used a still image of him on posters for the fake cure, shared on social media....

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