TikTok removed AI-generated ads that impersonated British retailer Boots to promote prescription-only weight-loss drugs, after the company complained. The fake account, apparently based in Hong Kong, was able to repost identical videos before TikTok ultimately deleted the user, underscoring enforcement gaps as AI tools make brand and clinician impersonation easier. UK regulators warn that advertising and purchasing prescription-only weight-loss medicines outside registered pharmacies carries serious health risks and breaks the law. The episode highlights the growing tension between platforms’ AI safeguards and scammers’ agility, with major brands often getting faster remediation than smaller victims.
Related articles:
UK Online Safety Act: information and updates
Substandard and falsified medical products (WHO)
Obesity treatment and weight-loss medicines (NHS)
