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[HEALTH] · Italy, Argentina, Spain · 3 sources

started · updated

AI‑Created Fake Doctor Channels Flood YouTube with Health Misinformation

AI-generated doctors YouTube health misinformation fake medical channels TikTok disinformation digital health scams

Investigations have identified 1,046 YouTube channels that use artificial‑intelligence‑generated avatars to pose as medical professionals. The channels host almost 100,000 videos, have attracted roughly 1.84 billion views and more than 23.7 million subscribers, and publish content in over 30 languages.

The videos promote unverified cures for serious illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes, often targeting older adults. Many channels monetize the traffic through subscriptions, donations and sales of guides or supplements. The majority of the channels (over 77%) appeared between January 2025 and July 2026, though some date back to 2006.

A related analysis of Spanish‑language content found 60 channels with 4,254 videos and 3,038,800 subscribers, while 28 TikTok accounts linked to the same network have 1,858,442 followers and more than 11 million likes. The phenomenon illustrates how AI can scale health disinformation across global platforms.

Entities

Chequeado · Dr. Fernando Manochi · Dr. Richard Ben · Maldita · TikTok · YouTube

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [● 3 SOURCES] 1,046 YouTube channels use AI‑generated avatars to present themselves as medical professionals. assodigitale.it · chequeado.com · maldita.es
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 77% of the channels were created between January 2025 and July 2026. maldita.es
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The identified videos total nearly 100,000 and have amassed about 1.84 billion views. assodigitale.it
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The channels have accumulated over 23.7 million subscribers. assodigitale.it
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 28 TikTok accounts linked to the phenomenon have 1,858,442 followers and over 11 million likes. chequeado.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] A sample of 60 Spanish‑language channels had 4,254 videos and 3,038,800 subscribers as of July 2026. chequeado.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The channels promote unscientific cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. assodigitale.it
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Content is posted in more than 30 languages. assodigitale.it

Sources

Miles de videos de falsos médicos creados con IA inundan YouTube y TikTok con consejos peligrosos para la salud - Chequeado [chequeado.com]
YouTube, 1. 046 canali usano medici virtuali per diffondere cure false [assodigitale.it]
Los falsos médicos de YouTube: más de 1. 000 canales hechos con IA y cómo la plataforma permite casi 100. 000 vídeos en 30 idiomas·Maldita. es - Periodismo para que no te la cuelen [maldita.es]