Health experts have warned that AI-generated "doctors" are spreading misleading medical advice on TikTok, describing the trend as a "huge danger to public safety". Research from digital marketing agency Hallam found that deepfake influencer accounts designed to resemble real physicians are racking up millions of views while promoting disproven cancer myths and dubious "miracle cure" products, prompting the British Medical Association, NHS England and the Royal College of GPs to call for stronger platform intervention.

The study analysed 1,198 TikTok videos and found AI-generated content made up 40% of top health-related posts, rising to 84% for searches such as "health tips". These videos, which averaged 2.5 million views each, spread false claims that microwaving food in plastic, using deodorant or sleeping near a phone can cause cancer, and touted bizarre remedies including Coca-Cola mixed with onion for pain relief and a fictitious anti-ageing product called "Hyalethinap Plus Pro Max". A separate Healthwatch England poll found roughly one in five adults in England use social media for health information, and TikTok removed examples flagged by the Guardian, though experts say the problem reflects "industrialised exploitation of trust".