Steve Wozniak Exposes YouTube Bitcoin Scam and Deepfake Fraud Concerns

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, has revealed that he was unwittingly made the face of a YouTube bitcoin scam and has raised alarms about rising deepfake fraud that targets prominent tech figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

YouTube Bitcoin Scam Uncovered

In an interview with CBS News, Wozniak explained how scammers took an old video of him discussing bitcoin and framed it with a Bitcoin address, promising participants that any money sent would be doubled. He stated, “Of course it’s fraud.”

Impact on Victims

This fraudulent scheme came to light when Wozniak’s wife, Janet, received a message from a victim inquiring about the return of their funds. Wozniak noted, “Some people said they lost their life savings.” He emphasised the seriousness of such theft, declaring, “That’s a crime. A good person acts when they see a crime occurring and attempts to intervene.”

YouTube’s Inaction

According to Wozniak, YouTube did not respond despite numerous attempts to address the issue. He mentioned, “We never got to YouTube; our lawyer has gotten to their lawyer, that’s all.” Janet’s efforts to have the content removed were also disregarded, he added, stating, “They wouldn’t.”

Legal Battle Against YouTube

Wozniak is currently pursuing legal action against YouTube on behalf of the scam’s victims. However, the case has faced delays for five years, primarily due to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from being held liable for user-generated content. Wozniak expressed concern, saying, “It states that anything posted has no liability at all. It’s totally absolute.”

Reflections on Internet Integrity

Wozniak reflected on the broader implications, stating that this incident highlights how the internet has deviated from its foundational principles. He remarked, “When the internet began to be available to the public, it appeared to be aimed at democratizing information.” He added, “I loved it for that! Then came the social web and Google, which needed to profit. The only method to generate revenue is by tracking users and selling data to advertisers.”

Concerns About Scams

Wozniak warned that there is insufficient effort to combat scams, highlighting the billions lost each year to cryptocurrency and AI-related fraud. While he continues to view Apple as “the best,” he lamented that his critiques seldom resonate. He concluded, “Nobody buys my voice.”