The peptide black market hiding in plain sight on social media | Media Watch

ABC News In-depth

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Video Summary

Social media influencers are promoting black market peptides as miracle drugs for weight loss and muscle gain, despite significant health risks and a lack of regulation. These unapproved substances, often sold through encrypted messaging apps and disguised as "laboratory research purposes only," have been linked to severe side effects like acute liver toxicity and melanoma. Meanwhile, a scandal has rocked the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) after investigative programs "Four Corners" and "Background Briefing" aired segments featuring a masked source, "Remy," whose claims about her life as a high-end cocaine dealer have been exposed as largely fabricated. The source, identified as Carissa Hubcook, claims she was paid to act and that the ABC hired the car and location used in the segments, raising serious questions about the broadcaster's editorial integrity and fact-checking processes. In a separate incident, Seven Sunrise incorrectly reported Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky had resigned, when in fact it was the true Prime Minister, Yulia Svirodenko, who stepped down amid a corruption scandal.

Short Highlights

Black market peptides are promoted on social media for weight loss and muscle gain.
Unapproved peptides carry risks including liver toxicity and melanoma.
ABC's "Four Corners" and "Background Briefing" aired segments with a fabricated source.
"Remy," a supposed cocaine dealer, was revealed to be an actress paid by the ABC.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svirodenko resigned amid a corruption scandal, not Volodymyr Zelensky as initially reported.

Key Details

Black Market Peptides Flood Social Media [0:00]

Influencers promote black market peptides for weight loss, muscle gain, and cosmetic benefits.
These substances are marketed as "miracle drugs" but carry significant health risks.

"People are playing Russian roulette with their lives and with their health."

Underground Peptide Trade [0:38]

Peptides are amino acids, some of which are approved medicines.
Unapproved peptides are being heavily promoted on social media platforms like TikTok.
Users often dismiss potential side effects, including melanoma.

"At the end of the day, it's an email address. I don't know who's on the other end of the email address."

Deceptive Marketing and Health Risks [1:09]

Companies like "Australian Peptide Clinic" market peptides for "laboratory research purposes only" while directing users to encrypted chat groups for instructions.
Users report side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and pain.
Registrutide, an illegal peptide in Australia, has been linked to acute liver toxicity, with six cases reported in Victoria.

"My eyes started going yellow, like very noticeably yellow."

Social Media Platforms and Regulators Struggle [2:01]

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) faces challenges policing the peptide trade, describing it as "whack-a-mole."
Social media platforms like TikTok and Meta are attempting to remove content promoting high-risk goods.
Experts criticize social media companies for not doing enough to protect users.

"Policing this is very much whack-a-mole."

ABC Scandal: "Four Corners" and "Background Briefing" [2:49]

ABC programs "Four Corners" and "Background Briefing" are under investigation for airing segments with a masked source, "Remy."
"Remy," identified as Carissa Hubcook, claims her portrayal as a high-end cocaine dealer was fabricated and that the ABC paid for a hired car and location.
Hubcook stated she was acting and did the segments as a favor to journalist Mahmoud Fazal.

"I played a role that they needed. You know, when, like, people need roles played in certain docos and that, and there's people who look the part that can fill it, yeah, that's what was happening."

Editorial Integrity and Fact-Checking at ABC [4:00]

"Four Corners" executive producer Matthew Carney stated the program would not have aired if the information about "Remy" had been disclosed.
The ABC has removed the "Background Briefing" episode and is reviewing other content involving Mahmoud Fazal.
The scandal raises serious questions about the ABC's editorial policies and the trust placed in journalists.

"If Mr Habcook's account can be verified, then this is disappointing and troubling."

False Report on Ukraine's Prime Minister [5:27]

Seven Sunrise incorrectly reported that Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky had resigned.
The actual Prime Minister, Yulia Svirodenko, resigned amid a corruption scandal.
Zelensky appeared on Seven's news bulletin days later, firing his top general, while Seven's website still claimed he was retired.

"The reason for his resignation? A mystery."