By Christ Hastings, Daisy Graham-Brown, and Natasha Livingstone for the mail on Sunday.
Buckingham Palace expressed strong disapproval last evening regarding the acquisition of offensive fabricated publications concerning the King’s cancer diagnosis, which were generated using artificial intelligence.
The Palace criticized the purchase of “intrusive” and “insensitive” computer-generated books that contain false information about the King’s health in an unprecedented statement. They further mentioned that their legal team is meticulously reviewing the situation.
This reaction followed the revelation by this publication that Amazon, a tech giant founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is selling seven counterfeit royal biographies alongside authentic best-selling royal biographies on their platform, accounting for a significant portion of the book sales.
These unauthorized books, which violate Amazon’s policies, are filled with sensational fabrications and assertions created by artificial intelligence algorithms, including:
- vivid descriptions of the King’s emotional turmoil upon learning about his cancer diagnosis.
- details of a medical procedure to address Charles’ “tumor” post chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Allegations that the palace exploited the King’s skin cancer diagnosis for publicity purposes.
- assertions of Charles having prostate cancer with a “modest risk” of metastasis, as per an insider.
- An account of the King’s hospitalization due to an “unexplained injury” shortly after his reign began.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated yesterday that any speculation regarding the King’s health and treatment is aggressive, insensitive, and riddled with inaccuracies, as reported by MoS. The matter is under thorough scrutiny by their legal team.
“We are closely investigating the issue.”
“We urge individuals or entities involved in their sale to cease immediately.”
Following MoS’s notification, some of the objectionable AI-generated books were removed from Amazon, but some remained available, including one falsely claiming the King’s battle with prostate cancer.
These findings underscore how individuals exploit AI to disseminate false information and fabrications about public figures online.
All the identified books were authored anonymously, uploaded to Amazon, and utilized the platform’s self-publishing feature.
The identities of the authors remain unverified, as Amazon declined to disclose their names upon request.
The tech giant, being the fourth-largest company globally, faced criticism from prominent royal authors and associates of the King for retailing “disturbing” and “fraudulent” texts that exploit the monarch’s illness.
This intrusion into the King’s privacy during his illness highlights the depths to which some individuals are willing to stoop, remarked Lord Michael Dobbs, who shares a birthdate with the King and recently celebrated his 75th birthday alongside him.
Expressing his dismay, Liberal peer questioned the availability of such content, drawing from his personal experience with prostate cancer. He emphasized the responsibility of Amazon to uphold higher standards.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers criticized Amazon for publishing these books in poor taste, especially considering the dissemination of misleading information.
This situation undoubtedly distresses the Royal Family. These AI-generated publications should be regulated and clearly labeled to distinguish them from legitimate works.
Renowned author Dame Margaret Drabble raised concerns about the role of Amazon in addressing such predatory practices, urging the company to take decisive action.
Shortly after reports emerged last Monday about King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and treatment, these objectionable materials surfaced on Amazon.
The books masqueraded as authentic biographies offering insights into the King’s condition, with prices ranging from £6.99 for e-books to £15.99 for print copies produced and sold by Amazon.
However, these books contain false assertions contradicting official statements from the palace, indicating their AI-generated origin drawing from online sources.
One such book, “The King’s Battle: Charles III and His Fight Against Cancer,” was published on Amazon on the same day the King’s cancer diagnosis was revealed.
Written and available for purchase in 18 days
Utilizing an artificial intelligence program, a book can be “written” and listed for sale on Amazon within 20 days. A demonstration involving Chat GPT crafting a guide about The Mail on Sunday’s history was completed swiftly, underscoring the speed at which AI-generated content can be produced.
While Amazon was questioned about the use of AI in content creation, they did not confirm the specifics.
According to Dr. Mhairi Aitken from the Alan Turing Institute in London, AI-generated content may present feasible scenarios but lacks the context of personal circumstances, as seen in the inaccurate portrayal of the King’s medical journey.
The book mentioned the King’s initial treatment involving surgery for the removal of tissue, despite the palace neither confirming the type of cancer nor referencing a tumor following his recent prostate surgery.
The narrative detailed the King’s emotional turmoil upon diagnosis, depicting a poignant moment with the physician delivering the news, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The fabricated account described the King’s struggles with chemotherapy side effects, surgical procedures, and emotional distress, painting a picture of vulnerability and fear.
The King’s actual treatment remains undisclosed by the palace.
Another book released on Amazon, titled “Behind Palace Walls: The Untold Secrets and Truth of the Cancer Diagnoses of King Charles,” propagated false narratives about the King’s health, portraying his diagnosis as a minor skin cancer issue.
The book suggested that the palace strategically disclosed a low-risk skin cancer diagnosis to preempt potential future health concerns, emphasizing the manipulation of public perception.
Furthermore, it fabricated an incident of an unexplained injury leading to the King’s hospitalization early in his reign.
An additional spurious biography, “Royal insider on King Charles ‘cancer diagnosis and what it means for Britain’s royal family,” claimed an unsubstantiated penile cancer diagnosis for the King, contradicting official statements.
Despite Buckingham Palace’s denial of prostate cancer, the book persisted in spreading misinformation about the King’s health status.
The proliferation of such AI-generated content alongside legitimate works on Amazon underscores the challenge of distinguishing fact from fiction in the digital age.
Esteemed figures, including actors, writers, and peers, condemned the dissemination of false information about King Charles through AI-generated books, calling for accountability from Amazon and the authors involved.
Amazon, led by billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos, faced criticism for allowing the sale of deceptive and exploitative content during a sensitive period for the Royal Family. The use of AI to propagate misinformation was particularly denounced by public figures.
In response to previous incidents, including legal threats from individuals targeted by false narratives, Amazon emphasized their commitment to upholding content guidelines and removing violative material promptly.
They reiterated their stance against AI-generated content that undermines user experience, affirming their actions to address violations promptly.
