The family of Michael Schumacher has been awarded £170,026 (€200,000) in compensation from the publishers of a German magazine that published an AI-generated 'interview' with the Formula 1 legend. Last year, German publication Die Aktuelle featured a picture of Schumacher with the headline 'Michael Schumacher, The First Interview, World Sensation'. The magazine faced widespread condemnation for the AI-generated interview, as Schumacher's family has protected his privacy since his skiing accident in 2013. The settlement amount was confirmed by the Munich Labour Court and will be paid by Funke Magazines.
In another development, Gina Schumacher, daughter of Michael Schumacher, has raised an appeal to donate $500,000 to support the Brant family, who suffered a devastating barn fire resulting in the death of over 100 horses. Gina, a famous showjumper herself, shared the appeal on her Instagram account and has already received donations totaling $159,300. The Brant family runs Brant Performance Horses, and the fire broke out on June 8th. The Schumacher family has a love for horses, with Gina being a decorated equestrian and the family owning several ranches across the globe. Gina has used her love for horse riding to pay tribute to her father, Michael, in the past.
In a separate incident, German prosecutors have announced that two individuals have been arrested for attempting to blackmail the family of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher. The suspects allegedly demanded millions of euros in exchange for not releasing information about the family on the dark web. The blackmailers were operating from the city of Wuppertal in western Germany. The arrested individuals, a 53-year-old man and his 30-year-old son, were already on bail for another crime. Michael Schumacher, who suffered serious cranial injuries in a skiing accident in 2013, has not made any public appearances since the accident. His family has repeatedly appealed for privacy. [613216bb]