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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Claim: A GMA news report features and endorses an oral stem cell therapy medicine that’s proven to treat tuberculosis.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post containing the claim has 24,000 views, 57 comments, and 150 reactions as of writing.
The video appears to show 24 Oras anchor Mel Tiangco endorsing a medical product named “RegenStem Placenta Drops,” which claims to strengthen the immune system and cure illnesses such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. In the video, Tiangco seems to feature the healing and recovery of a child from tuberculosis upon taking the said product.
The facts: An analysis by a deepfake detection tool, Deepware, revealed that the video containing the claim is fake and was manipulated using artificial intelligence. It qualifies for the website’s red classification which bears the highest intensity level based on its software’s four model results.
The original video source of the manipulated news report, which was published on July 15, 2014, also made no mention of the oral stem cell therapy brand. Although the featured patient had in fact recovered from tuberculosis, it was mainly attributed to monetary donations that funded the medication.
Not FDA-registered: RegenStem Placenta Drops is not included in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of approved food and drug products. FreshStart Labs, which appears to be distributing the said product, is also not listed in the FDA’s list of drug industries with license to operate.
In 2023, the agency had previously warned against the purchase and consumption of a similar unregistered food supplement “CELLULA Oral Stem Cell Therapy.” It advised consumers to always check if a product is registered with the FDA by using the FDA Verification Portal feature accessible at https://verification.fda.gov.ph.
Overrun by deepfake content: The Facebook page bearing the altered video advertisement has also posted numerous potential AI-manipulated content featuring celebrities and some news personalities whose facial movements, voice, and intonations show inconsistencies.
Rappler had previously fact-checked multiple advertisements containing AI-manipulated news reports that promote unregistered health products:
FACT CHECK: ‘News report’ promoting hair spray is AI-manipulated
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FACT CHECK: Video of news report on hypertension ‘cure’ is AI-manipulated
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FACT CHECK: Jessica Soho ad for cyst and tumor ‘cure’ is AI-generated
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– Sean Guevarra/Rappler.com
Sean Guevarra is a Rappler intern. He is a senior BS Development Communication student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the news editor for Tanglaw, the student publication of UPLB College of Development Communication.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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