Lidiia Taran - attack 27.05.2025

On 27 May 2025, the TikTok account ukrnews_today published a reels-format video with the caption: “Pension increase. #petition #ukraine #news #ComfortSegredos”.

The video uses a fragment of a TSN news broadcast aired on the “1+1” TV channel, featuring former channel host Lidiia Taran. The segment claims that a petition has allegedly been registered in Ukraine to raise the minimum pension to 10,000 UAH “for those who have worked all their lives”. It also invites viewers to follow the link in the profile bio to sign this petition. However, the video and audio tracks do not match: the voice used in the reel is AI-generated, does not resemble Lidiia Taran’s real voice, and the sound and image are out of sync.

Moreover, the segment contains no concrete information about the alleged petition: who published it, when, where it is hosted, or whom it is addressed to. The lack of details further indicates that the video is fake. The invitation to click on an unknown link may suggest a scam and is potentially dangerous.
This case is an example of TFGBV—technology-facilitated gender-based violence—targeted at media professional Lidiia Taran through the use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Specifically, it involves gendered disinformation, impersonation, and the creation of a deepfake. Using the image of a well-known female presenter for potentially fraudulent schemes and to attract audience attention is a manipulative tactic that may undermine public trust in her as a professional, as well as in the media outlet she represented.