Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher looks on.
Michael Schumacher’s family has been awarded €200,000 after suing a German publication for a fake AI-generated interview that they claimed was with the seven-time World Champion.
In the past year, the German publication Die Aktuelle released an issue that showcased a photograph of the renowned Formula 1 legend. The headline, “Michael Schumacher, The First Interview, World Sensation,” was prominently displayed.
Michael Schumacher’s family sued over ‘fake’ interview
Underneath, the fine print stated, “It possesses an unexpectedly authentic quality.”
The AI-generated interview conducted by the publication received extensive criticism due to the fact that Schumacher’s family has been safeguarding his privacy since his skiing accident in late 2013.
Taking legal action against Die Aktuelle and its publishing group Funke Magazines, editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann was fired while Funke managing director Bianca Pohlmann apologised for the “tasteless” article.
In a statement, she expressed her disappointment with the tasteless and misleading article, stating that it should never have been published. She emphasized that it does not meet the high standards of journalism expected from a reputable publisher like Funke, both by them and their readers.
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Funke Magazines has been confirmed by the Munich Labour Court to pay a settlement of €200,000 to Schumacher’s family.
The family of Schumacher has been strongly committed to safeguarding his privacy following his accident, and their lawyer Felix Dam has clarified the rationale behind this stance to the German media outlet LTO.
“He mentioned that the main focus was constantly on safeguarding private matters. We deliberated whether a conclusive report regarding Michael’s well-being could serve as an appropriate approach to achieve this objective.”
However, the story wouldn’t have concluded there. Constantly updated “water level reports” would have been necessary, and the family wouldn’t have had control over when the media interest in the story faded.
However, the Schumacher family has remained largely silent on the matter. In the documentary series “Being Michael Schumacher,” which consisted of five parts, Mick Schumacher, a former Haas F1 driver and Michael Schumacher’s son, provided some glimpses into his emotions.
“He expressed his belief that now, Dad and he could understand each other in a whole new manner, thanks to their shared language of motorsport. He even mentioned his willingness to sacrifice everything for this newfound connection,” he stated.
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