A video has been uploaded on a YouTube account featuring a 40-year veteran specialist providing health information. An elderly man with white hair, wearing a doctor's gown, said, "Bathing every day will lead to a quick death." He claimed that frequent bathing in hot water as one ages awakens the nerves and dries the skin, making it vulnerable to infections and death. He also mentioned that using soap daily can lower skin immunity. The video has garnered over 1 million views and received hundreds of comments.
However, the doctor in the video was a fake created by artificial intelligence (AI). The health information conveyed by AI was also not medically verified. Jo Young-min, a professor of endocrinology at Seoul National University Hospital, noted, "Japanese seniors can bathe daily and live long," adding that it "is not significantly related to death." However, he pointed out that "the skin has protective functions provided by substances like sebum and fatty acids," and "if these are stripped away by soap, the skin can become dry."
Deepfakes created by AI, including photos, videos, and voice, have penetrated the medical field. They indiscriminately spread fake health information on social media (SNS). Such deepfakes are created to attract views and generate revenue by targeting individuals interested in health. That is why it is stated at the end of these videos, "If you subscribe and like, you can receive health information without missing it in the future."
Another YouTube account with over 100,000 subscribers uploaded a video stating, "A daily glass of makgeolli is good for health." They placed an AI-generated doctor's photo and explained that "makgeolli helps with high blood pressure, diabetes, and joint pain," adding that "it can help escape from chronic disease pain that is not relieved by any medication." However, this too is not medically verified information. Professor Jo stated, "Since makgeolli is ultimately alcohol, it is problematic to consider it as a health drink."
There are also cases where people pretend to offer "health tips" to sell products to those who have been misled by the videos. In 2023, a video appeared on social media featuring American Hollywood actor Tom Hanks promoting dental insurance in a youthful appearance, but it turned out to be a fake video created by AI. On the Chinese short-form (short video) platform TikTok, there was also an instance where an AI-generated obstetrician provided information while selling health products.
Anyone can easily create deepfake videos with AI, leading to more victims. Although fake information abounds, there are few cases of filtering it out. According to the Korea Health Promotion Institute, a public agency under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of 2023, 4 out of 10 adults struggled to comprehend health information correctly and judge it appropriately.
Experts state that the ability to select reliable information is essential to protect health. When searching for health information, it is advisable to identify sources and cultivate a habit of rational skepticism. Those providing health information should also have scientific evidence. Lee Don-hyung, director of the Health Promotion Research Institute at the Korea Health Promotion Institute, noted, "Cases of experiencing side effects from unverified health information are increasing," stressing that "the public must be enabled to choose accurate information."