Google removes 46 AI-generated fake medical channels on YouTube

Google has removed 46 YouTube channels and 11 videos that utilized artificial intelligence to create fake medical professionals. These channels used AI-generated characters to promote unverified cures and treatments, primarily targeting elderly audiences.

The action follows an extrajudicial notification from the Brazilian federal government after the Ministry of Health identified dozens of profiles simulating health professionals to spread scientific misinformation. A previous investigation by BBC News Brasil had highlighted a network of 29 Portuguese-language channels that accumulated over 70 million views using digital characters.

In communication with the Attorney General's Office (AGU), Google stated that the removals were due to violations of YouTube policies regarding fraud, identity theft, and harmful health information. The company noted that 32 other channels and four videos were already unavailable at the time of notification, and two channels lost monetization capabilities.