Korea Consumer Agency Blocks 420 Misleading AI Ads, Mostly Fake Reviews

A total of 420 misleading advertisements that deceived consumers by using artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake experts or manipulate body transformation effects have been detected and blocked.

The Korea Consumer Agency announced that following a nine-month monitoring period of YouTube short-form advertisements from October of last year to June of this year, it identified and blocked 420 misleading ads that abused AI.

By category, "fake review manipulation," which involved using AI to exaggeratingly composite body changes or fake them as real consumer testimonials, was the most common with 267 cases (63.6%).

There were 153 cases (36.4%) of "fake expert impersonation," which featured bogus doctors or pharmacists.

Among the fake review manipulation ads, 171 cases composited and manipulated body transformation effects, while 96 cases utilized false testimonials from fake consumers.

Among the fake expert impersonation ads, 46 cases impersonated doctors, pharmacists, or nurses, while 107 cases involved impersonating other professionals such as professors, product developers, and master artisans.

By product category, food advertisements accounted for about three-quarters of the total with 312 cases (74.3%).

Cosmetics followed with 72 cases (17.1%), and medical services accounted for 21 cases (5.0%).

Other items such as massagers, medical devices, and quasi-drugs totaled 15 cases (3.6%).

Notably, in food advertisements, expressions deceiving consumers by utilizing uncertified research, facts, or testimonials were the most common at 157 cases (50.3%).

False and exaggerated advertisements followed with 97 cases (31.1%), and ads that misled consumers into believing products had disease prevention or treatment efficacy accounted for 25 cases (8.0%).

For cosmetics advertisements, expressions likely to be mistaken for pharmaceuticals were the most frequent at 42 cases (58.3%), followed by advertisements promoting medical efficacy and effects beyond the scope of cosmetics with 22 cases (30.6%).

Actual detected cases included exaggerated body change ads claiming "I grew 6 cm after taking a growth medicine for adults" or "Just wearing this gives the effect of 300 abdominal exercises," as well as ads promoting blemish and age spot improvement effects by impersonating a doctor.

There were also cases where fake experts promoted implant procedures by highlighting prices.

The Consumer Agency established a cooperative system with Google in October of last year for the prompt blocking of misleading advertisements and has continuously monitored YouTube ads.

The number of detected cases surged from 24 cases between October and December of last year to 396 cases between January and June of this year.

The Consumer Agency noted that with the amendment of relevant laws in May, advertising activities in which AI-generated fake experts recommend foods or cosmetics have been explicitly prohibited, and urged businesses to exercise caution when producing advertisements.

It also advised consumers to keep in mind that before-and-after comparisons, reviews, and expert recommendations in social media (SNS) ads may have been synthesized or manipulated using AI, and urged them not to be misled.

(Photo: Provided by Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.