TikTok, the popular social video platform, has removed a suspected deepfake video featuring podcaster Joe Rogan promoting a male-marketed coffee product called Alpha Grind on his show. According to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for TikTok confirmed that the video was removed for violating the site’s harmful misinformation policy and community guidelines.
TikTok’s policy on harmful misinformation is designed to protect users from content that causes significant harm to individuals, the community, or the public at large, regardless of the intent. The platform does not consider inaccurate information, myths, or commercial or reputational harm as significant harm. The company also stated that it banned the account that promoted the “libido booster” supplement.
The video ad, which was promoted by a TikTok user named @mikesmithtrainer, was removed, and the account is no longer accessible on the platform. In the video, Rogan and his guest, Stanford University associate professor Andrew D. Huberman, purportedly direct listeners to find the product on Amazon. However, the video includes fabrications and a false conversation, according to Huberman.
A Twitter user reposted the clip, which went viral and was viewed by millions before it was taken down. The post now reads, “This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.” Despite the removal of the original clip, another upload of the same content remains live on Twitter.
Joe Rogan has millions of subscribers and listeners and has recently tweeted about artificial intelligence. TikTok banned deepfake videos in 2020, but some continue to appear on social media platforms. However, the removal of this video demonstrates the platform’s commitment to enforcing its guidelines and policies regarding harmful misinformation and deepfakes.
