TikTok removes AI weight loss ads from fake Boots account

What’s Happening

So basically The adverts for prescription-only drugs showed healthcare professionals impersonating the British retailer.

TikTok removes AI weight loss ads from fake Boots account 21 hours ago Save Jamie Ryan BBC Social News Save BBC Some of the posts falsely claiming to be from Boots, using the stores logo Fake adverts for weight loss drugs by a company pretending to be health and beauty retailer Boots have been removed from TikTok after the firm complained. The adverts for prescription-only weight loss drugs appeared to show smiling healthcare professionals from the British retailer - but in reality they were made with AI. (shocking, we know)

It is illegal to advertise prescription-only weight loss drugs to the public.

The Details

A spokesperson for Boots told the BBC the firm was “aware” of the videos and had complained to TikTok, which dropped it had removed the videos. A TikTok spokesperson dropped it did not allow “harmful or misleading AI-generated ads” on its platform.

But the BBC found while the videos were removed, the account - seemingly located in Hong Kong - was not. It was able to re-upload the exact same videos despite the originals being removed.

Why This Matters

TikTok was again notified of this, and the user was subsequently deleted. Weight-loss jabs have been available on the NHS in England since the end of June, but they are not available over-the-counter and patients must meet strict criteria to be eligible for a prescription. Before the fake Boots account was removed, its videos linked to a site where weight loss drugs could be bought.

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

Key Takeaways

• It featured testimonies from users and doctors which were either made with AI or taken from other websites.
• The TikTok videos showed what appeared to be health workers drinking from a vial of blue liquid.
• This would then appear to jump forward several months, with the workers apparently having took an L a drastic amount of weight.

The Bottom Line

The TikTok videos showed what appeared to be health workers drinking from a vial of blue liquid. This would then appear to jump forward several months, with the workers apparently having took an L a drastic amount of weight.

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