Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the use of AI deepfake videos impersonating doctors to spread health misinformation on social media platforms.

The Government recognises the threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) generated deepfake videos, particularly those impersonating medical professionals to disseminate health misinformation on social media platforms.

We urge the public to be conscious of where their information is coming from, and to prioritise health information published through official National Health Service and Department websites and their verified social media accounts. These channels are maintained to ensure the accuracy and reliability of clinically verified health advice, helping to safeguard the public from misleading or harmful content.

Furthermore, the Government is leveraging the Online Safety Act to require social media platforms to swiftly remove misleading and potentially harmful content, including AI deepfakes that spread health misinformation. We are actively working in partnership with Ofcom, the United Kingdom’s communications regulator, to ensure that online platforms comply with these requirements and uphold the highest standards of safety and information integrity. This collaborative approach aims to protect individuals from digital misinformation and maintain public trust in vital health communications.