AI-faked food-safety clips; a tool to verify authenticity is missing

An AI-generated clip alleges filthy conditions at an eatery, and shoppers admit they can no longer tell with the naked eye whether it is real. The spread of AI video-generation technology leaves Hong Kong consumers unable to judge whether food-safety exposé clips are genuine, creating a blind spot in consumer protection.

The eatery involved alleges the clip is an AI fake, but large numbers of residents concede they can no longer tell the difference by eye, and some say they have stopped patronising it as a result. The inability to tell real from fake traps consumers in a dilemma: they struggle to identify genuine food-safety hazards, and may also be exploited by malicious deepfakes aimed at damaging a business's reputation.

The market lacks a consumer-usable tool to verify the authenticity of AI clips, underscoring the urgent need for a trustworthy food-safety verification platform.