The family of former German Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher has won a legal case it filed last year against the German publishing group Funke, following the publication of a fake interview with Schumacher published in the women’s weekly Die Aktuelle, written using artificial intelligence software. She let it be known to Associated Press Schumacher’s family spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, who added the editorial group will have to pay compensation of 200 thousand euros.
Schumacher, one of the most well-known and successful drivers in history, had a serious skiing accident in 2013 which caused brain injuries: his family has always maintained strict confidentiality about his condition, but it is known that he is unable to walk and that his interactions are of little significance, and that he would therefore never be able to give interviews.
The magazine’s cover headline was “Michael Schumacher – The First Interview!” written in very large letters, as if to signal a scoop, and the fact that the interview was fake was only made clear inside. In the following days the newspaper was heavily criticized and the Schumacher family announced that they wanted to sue him. The publisher apologized and the newspaper’s editor, Anne Hoffmann, was removed from her position.
