An AI-generated deepfake video showing Nigel Farage and Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey brawling on the set of BBC One's Question Time has prompted an urgent warning from the central bank. The footage, which circulated on X, depicts the Reform UK leader holding a gun while grappling with Bailey, with police officers separating them.
Andrew Bailey urged the public to report the videos so they could be taken down. “Unfortunately, fake adverts impersonating the Bank of England and other central banks are on the rise,” he said. “These scams are designed to criminally exploit the public, especially the vulnerable, when they are online. I would urge everyone to stay vigilant and report these scams. That way authorities can better root out digital deception like this and permanently remove the fraudsters responsible for what is a truly online scourge.”
“Bank of England warns public after AI deepfake of Farage and Bailey fighting spreads on X.”
Farage responded to the AI posts on Monday, stating: “Whilst Andrew Bailey and I have our disagreements, I would never take it that far!” The Bank has raised concerns about the posts with Reform UK and with social media platforms, according to Bloomberg.
The proliferation of AI-generated content impersonating public figures has surged as the technology becomes more capable. Martin Lewis has warned of a “wild west” of online scams powered by AI. The UK's Online Safety Act includes provisions requiring tech platforms to tackle fraudulent advertising, but those duties do not come into force until next year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer weighed in, saying tech firms must take responsibility for such fake images. His spokesman stated: “There is a responsibility on tech platforms to ensure that they are not providing a vehicle for that kind of abuse.”
X, owned by Elon Musk, explicitly bars impersonation of individuals to “deceive others”. The platform has been approached for comment. X's sister company, xAI, was embroiled in controversy earlier this year after its Grok tool was used to generate misleading content.