Family of Schumacher to Sue German Magazine for Publishing Fake Interview
The family of Michael Schumacher will file a lawsuit against the German magazine Die Aktuelle for publishing a fake interview with the legendary German Formula 1 driver, conducted using artificial intelligence (AI), according to American sports television network ESPN.
The magazine claimed to have obtained an interview with Michael Schumacher, the first since his skiing accident and serious head injury at the end of 2013 in the French Alps.
On Wednesday, the magazine published the "interview" and then stated that it had been generated by an artificial intelligence.
The article contained quotes attributed to Schumacher, discussing his family life since the accident and his health status. The Schumacher family confirmed through a spokesperson to ESPN their plans to take legal action regarding this interview.
Schumacher's family, aged 54, closely guards the privacy of the former champion, who has not been seen in public since his accident. Very little information has leaked about his health condition.
As the Formula 1 champion with the most titles in history, with seven championships, tied with Lewis Hamilton, who succeeded him at Mercedes, Schumacher left the hospital six months after his accident and was placed in a medical bed at his family's residence in Gland, Switzerland (Vaud canton).
He was still there at the end of 2021 when a Netflix documentary was released.
"What's private is private, as he always said," his wife, Corinna Schumacher, stated in this documentary. "Michael has always protected us, and now we protect Michael," she added.
His son, 24-year-old Mick, also an F1 driver, is currently a reserve driver at Mercedes, the team where his father ended his career in October 2012. AFP