Manny Pacquiao video endorsing online casino app found to be a deepfake

A video claiming that Manny Pacquiao launched and endorsed an online casino application has been debunked as false. Released on August 9, 2024, the video went viral and has garnered over 7 million views.

The video appeared to show Pacquiao promoting the app during an interview with ABS-CBN’s Karen Davila. This has now been identified as a deepfake or a type of manipulated video that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques to create realistic but fake content.

The on-screen text of the video reads, “Bagong mobile application ni Manny Pacquiao na pinag-uusapan ng buong bansa.”

In the video, Pacquiao suggests that new players have a great chance of winning and encourages people to download the app, implying that those who haven’t are “lazy.” The video also features a person claiming high returns from the online casino app.

Rappler used the detection tool Sensity in order to verify the veracity of the video of the Filipino boxing legend. The tool flagged the video as “suspicious,” pointing out unnatural mouth movements and glitches consistent with AI-generated manipulation.

The tool’s face analysis labeled the video as “suspicious” with a 95% certainty. Similarly, Sensity’s voice analysis also flagged the video as “suspicious,” but with a 62.1% certainty.

According to Sensity, the high confidence level means the tool detected clear signs of AI manipulation. The lowest confidence level for detecting such manipulation is 50%.

Pacquiao has not endorsed any new online casino apps, and the only known collaboration was with M88 Mansion in 2022.