IN SHORT: A video circulating on Fb seems to point out South African epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim stoking worry about Covid vaccines in a TV information interview. However the video is a deepfake, and the falsely attributed declare has been extensively debunked.
In June 2025, a video began circulating on Fb that seems to be a information broadcast from the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC).
The video reveals Prof Salim Abdol Karolka number one epidemiologist and director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Analysis in South Africa (Caprisa), seemingly being interviewed by well-known South African information anchor Oliver Dickson.
The clip opens with daring on-screen textual content that reads: “THIS IS A MUST SHARE TO ALL SOUTH AFRICANS.”
It then shows a quote attributed to Karim: “Everybody who obtained the Covid-19 vaccine is actually a strolling corpse.”
The video continues with Karim showing to say that pathologists around the globe have found harmful blood clots in vaccinated people.
However none of that is true. The video is a deepfake, a digitally edited video that reveals a faux interview and misrepresents Karim’s views on Covid-19 vaccines.
Disinformation utilizing Karim and SABC Information footage
Utilizing a reverse Google picture search, Africa Examine traced the footage again to a SABC Information interview posted on YouTube on 9 February. However the matter below dialogue had nothing to do with Covid-19 vaccines.
As a substitute, on this interview Karim mentioned the long run for South African non-governmental organisations counting on US funding, given the US authorities’s resolution to chop funding to those organisations.
Within the viral model, synthetic intelligence (AI) instruments had been used to change Karim’s facial actions and audio, creating a practical however totally faux assertion.
The video seems to be a deepfake designed to unfold misinformation. A deepfake is a video, picture or audio file that has been modified utilizing AI, to make it seem like somebody mentioned or did one thing they have not.
Statements from Caprisa and Division of Well being
In response to the video, Caprisa launched a public assertion stating that Karim by no means made the claims proven within the viral video. It emphasised that Covid-19 vaccines are secure and mentioned the deepfake video unfold false details about the vaccines and their unwanted side effects.
The Division of Well being additionally debunked the claims made within the video, saying it was faux and deliberately created to unfold disinformation and false anti-vaccine messages, aimed toward deceiving the general public and undermining public well being efforts. The division additionally urged folks to fact-check such movies earlier than sharing them.
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In an Instagram videoinformation anchor Dickson additionally confirmed that the video was faux and that not one of the claims in it had been true. News24 additionally debunked the claims made within the video, labelling it a deepfake and warning the general public to not be misled by its digitally manipulated content material.
Seems acquainted
Africa Examine has debunked many AI-generated moviestogether with false claims in regards to the Covid-19 vaccine inflicting blood clots. These movies are designed to unfold misinformation, utilizing AI instruments to impersonate credible people. Karim’s likeness has additionally beforehand been used to unfold false info to the South African public.
For tricks to establish AI-manipulated or AI-generated content material, see Africa Examine’s information.
If you happen to’re not sure whether or not a video is actual or faux, attain out to us and we are going to allow you to confirm it.
