Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently visited CBS to raise concerns about a fake video that falsely depicts him endorsing Bitcoin. In this misleading video, CBS mistakenly featured a fabricated version of Wozniak at a Disney theme park.
This isn’t Wozniak’s first experience with such issues; back in 2020, he aimed to take action against YouTube for a fake cryptocurrency giveaway that exploited his image. However, he lost that case and now shares his experience as a way to educate the public.
During an interview, Wozniak and his wife, Janet Hill, highlighted that scams like these are still prevalent. Wozniak noted that many individuals genuinely believe they are part of the scam. Hill recounted receiving an email through their web server asking, “When are you going to send me the money?” to which she replied, “What are you talking about?” They were filming a segment featuring Wozniak discussing Bitcoin.
“They even framed it nicely, showing their Bitcoin address,” she explained, adding that the video promised viewers that if they sent Bitcoin, they would receive double the amount back.
Wozniak expressed concern over the impact of such scams, stating, “Some people have said they lost their life savings.” He reflected on how the internet has transformed business models, enabling people to empower themselves.
He also touched on the prior lawsuit, expressing frustration: “We’ve never reached YouTube. Our lawyers have only reached out to their lawyers.”
While this issue might not be new, the need for warnings remains critical since fake videos continue to circulate without any signs of diminishing. It’s uncertain how effective these warnings are.
Interestingly, discussing a CBS report may be particularly beneficial in reaching those who don’t typically keep up with tech news.
Epcot Woz
There’s a certain irony in this situation, as CBS inadvertently contributed to the narrative surrounding fake Wozniak images. The primary image used for their report is a still from the video taken at the 56-second mark.
Among various authentic photographs of Apple’s co-founders, CBS showcased a legendary 1970s image of Wozniak that appears to depict him in a garage. However, this image actually features an animatronic version of him from the Spaceship Earth attraction at Epcot in Walt Disney World, Florida.
Documented in July 2022, this photograph is misleading. Spaceship Earth originally opened in 1982, lacking any reference to Wozniak. His likeness was incorporated into the ride in 2007, shortly before its peak in popularity.
Despite these updates, the figure in the image is not Wozniak himself.
Since departing from Apple in 1985, Wozniak has engaged in various ventures, including a music festival and support for the University of Technology.
