AI-generated images of elderly couple falsely show riot assault in France

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 21:27 · Archive

AI-generated photographs falsely depicting an elderly couple being assaulted during French riots have circulated millions of times online.

Viral photographs purporting to show an elderly couple being assaulted during unrest in France have been identified as AI-generated. The images spread widely on X, reaching nearly six million views, and were shared by several police unions as riots occurred across the country.

Analysis revealed multiple visual inconsistencies, including two figures sharing a pair of legs, a missing finger on the elderly woman's hand, merged faces in the background and a person missing their lower half. When processed through specialist software, both images contained invisible watermarks indicating they were generated by artificial intelligence. The Daily Mail reports that one variant was created using Google Gemini, while another was linked to OpenAI's technology.

France 24 Observers traced the images to an AI photo montage published by a pro-Israel account. Far-right accounts amplified the photographs, making inflammatory claims about Muslims, Jews and the riots. American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones also shared one of the fake images. However, no official reports confirm that any such assault took place.

How it is being reported

• France riots: AI photos falsely depict elderly couple ‘stripped and robbed’AI-generated photos falsely claiming to show an elderly couple being “stripped and robbed” during unrest in France have racked up millions of views. Amplified by far-right accounts, the images fuelled inflammatory claims about Muslims, Jews and the riots. The FRANCE 24 Observers traced one image to an AI photo montage published by a pro-Israel account. The images were created using OpenAI tools, and the alleged assault remains unverified, with no official reports confirming the attack.France 24 · 19 Oct, 21:06
• Viral image of elderly couple stripped and surrounded by rioters in France was 'made or edited' with AIAn image of an elderly couple who were reportedly stripped and robbed during the latest riots that have plagued France has been flagged as being made or edited by AI. (Preview image is AI)Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 09:36

In this story: France · Google · OpenAI · X · Emmanuel Macron · Alex Jones · France 24

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