The claim

A fake video by Uğur Şahin claims that he never got vaccinated and that Biontech did not develop the vaccine.

Our conclusion

The fake video appeared, but comparing it to the original interview, it is clear that the content is different. In the original interview, Şahin emphasized the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and did not talk about lack of vaccination.

The discovery of a manipulated video that shows the founder of Biontech in a questionable light once again raises the question: How can we trust the truth in the age of disinformation? We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Facebook community, who sent us the video for review.

The creation of the fake with the boss of Biontech

It seemed like a bombshell: Suddenly a video appeared on social networks in which Uğur Şahin, head of Biontech, casually claimed that he had never been vaccinated and that Biontech had not developed the vaccine at all. The video spread quickly, especially through channels known for their nebulous content.

MIMIKAMA
Screenshot of the alleged video

The AI ​​magic: technology as a weapon

This is not the first time that fake videos have made the rounds. With advanced technology that uses deep learning models, video content can be convincingly manipulated. Mouth movements, tone of voice and even the entire message can be rewritten. This makes it a powerful but often dangerous playing field for disinformation.

a look behind the scenes

Luckily, there are sharp detectives in the online community. When you take a closer look at the video, you immediately notice that the quality of the clip does not correspond to the original video. A comparison with the real interview in the world shows that the content differs significantly.

What Şahin really said

In the original interview, Şahin focused on his team's dedication and determination, the tremendous advances in mRNA technology and the productive collaboration with Pfizer. No word of a pre-fabricated virus structure, no indication that a vaccination could be missed. On the contrary, he emphasized the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

The text, the FAKE, of the manipulated video

Şahin: “It is well known that CEOs from Silicon Valley, for example, forbid their own children from using tablets and so on. So, so to speak, they themselves consider the product they offer the world to be dangerous. I have not been vaccinated, neither with our vaccine nor with any other. We haven't really developed anything either. The virus structure was already given to us at the end of 2018, including a vaccine. We were then basically passed around in the media, like monkeys. What I can say is that the Biontech vaccine is definitely not what people thought it was. Not at all."

The ORIGINAL TEXT

Moderator: How did you to bring a vaccine onto the market so quickly

Şahin: “Yes, that was a very intensive time with international cooperation. We have been researching the vaccine platform in our company for over ten years, had a lot of experience with mRNA technology and knew that we could develop a vaccine very quickly using this technology. In addition, our employees did an excellent job. We created a 24/7 program so that it could continue without a break on the weekends. It came about that we partnered with Pfizer…”

The original conversation with Uğur Şahin took place on December 2, 2020 and was manipulated. After looking closely at the video, we were able to determine through a reverse image search that the interview from “ Welt ” served as the basis for the fake. This interview was given by Şahin three weeks before the start of the vaccination drive on December 2, 2020. Here is the original video:

Why do so many people fall for it?

It's amazing how many people believe such content without critically questioning it. The video fits perfectly into the narrative of conspiracy theories and distrust of large corporations and the pharmaceutical industry. Once online, such a story can spread like wildfire, supported by groups and individuals pursuing their own agenda.

How do we protect ourselves from disinformation?

Skepticism is always the first step. In a time when technological advances make it easier than ever to distinguish between reality and fiction, one must always be on guard. Check sources, get expert opinions and always ask yourself: Who benefits from this information? The truth is sometimes hard to find, but it is out there.

Conclusion

The manipulation of information is not new, but with recent technological advances it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from fiction. The fake interview with Uğur Şahin shows how easily public opinion can be influenced. But with critical thinking, a good dose of skepticism and an understanding of technology, we can defend ourselves against such attempts at deception. It is up to us to remain true to the truth.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )