#FactCheck -AI-Generated Video Falsely Shows Cristiano Ronaldo Chanting “Free Palestine
Executive Summary:
After the reported attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, a video allegedly showing footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has been widely circulated on social media. In the clip, Ronaldo appears to be holding a Palestinian flag and chanting “Free Palestine.” Several users are sharing the video with the claim that Ronaldo waved the Palestinian flag and raised “Free Palestine” slogans after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, a research by CyberPeace found that the claim is false. The viral clip does not depict a real event and has been generated using artificial intelligence. The fabricated video is being shared online with misleading claims.
Claim
An Instagram user “ham_313_ka_admi” shared the viral video on March 2, 2026. The text on the video reads: “Cristiano Ronaldo waved the Palestinian flag after Khamenei’s death. Mashallah. Free Palestine.”
Fact Check:
To verify the claim, we searched Google using relevant keywords but found no credible news reports supporting the viral claim. We also reviewed the official social media accounts of Cristiano Ronaldo, where no such video or statement was posted. This raised suspicion that the clip might be AI-generated.
To further examine the video, we analyzed it using AI detection tools. The tool Hive Moderation indicated a 99.9% probability that the video was created using artificial intelligence.
We also analyzed the footage using the Sightengine AI detection tool. The results suggested an 80% likelihood that the video was AI-generated. The tool also indicated that the clip may have been created using Sora, an AI video-generation tool.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming that Cristiano Ronaldo waved the Palestinian flag and chanted “Free Palestine” after the death of Ali Khamenei is AI-generated. It does not depict a real incident and is being shared with a misleading claim.
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Introduction
The fast-paced development of technology and the wider use of social media platforms have led to the rapid dissemination of misinformation with characteristics such as diffusion, fast propagation speed, wide influence, and deep impact through these platforms. Social Media Algorithms and their decisions are often perceived as a black box introduction that makes it impossible for users to understand and recognise how the decision-making process works.
Social media algorithms may unintentionally promote false narratives that garner more interactions, further reinforcing the misinformation cycle and making it harder to control its spread within vast, interconnected networks. Algorithms judge the content based on the metrics, which is user engagement. It is the prerequisite for algorithms to serve you the best. Hence, algorithms or search engines enlist relevant items you are more likely to enjoy. This process, initially, was created to cut the clutter and provide you with the best information. However, sometimes it results in unknowingly widespread misinformation due to the viral nature of information and user interactions.
Analysing the Algorithmic Architecture of Misinformation
Social media algorithms, designed to maximize user engagement, can inadvertently promote misinformation due to their tendency to trigger strong emotions, creating echo chambers and filter bubbles. These algorithms prioritize content based on user behaviour, leading to the promotion of emotionally charged misinformation. Additionally, the algorithms prioritize content that has the potential to go viral, which can lead to the spread of false or misleading content faster than corrections or factual content.
Additionally, popular content is amplified by platforms, which spreads it faster by presenting it to more users. Limited fact-checking efforts are particularly difficult since, by the time they are reported or corrected, erroneous claims may have gained widespread acceptance due to delayed responses. Social media algorithms find it difficult to distinguish between real people and organized networks of troll farms or bots that propagate false information. This creates a vicious loop where users are constantly exposed to inaccurate or misleading material, which strengthens their convictions and disseminates erroneous information through networks.
Though algorithms, primarily, aim to enhance user engagement by curating content that aligns with the user's previous behaviour and preferences. Sometimes this process leads to "echo chambers," where individuals are exposed mainly to information that reaffirms their beliefs which existed prior, effectively silencing dissenting voices and opposing viewpoints. This curated experience reduces exposure to diverse opinions and amplifies biased and polarising content, making it arduous for users to discern credible information from misinformation. Algorithms feed into a feedback loop that continuously gathers data from users' activities across digital platforms, including websites, social media, and apps. This data is analysed to optimise user experiences, making platforms more attractive. While this process drives innovation and improves user satisfaction from a business standpoint, it also poses a danger in the context of misinformation. The repetitive reinforcement of user preferences leads to the entrenchment of false beliefs, as users are less likely to encounter fact-checks or corrective information.
Moreover, social networks and their sheer size and complexity today exacerbate the issue. With billions of users participating in online spaces, misinformation spreads rapidly, and attempting to contain it—such as by inspecting messages or URLs for false information—can be computationally challenging and inefficient. The extensive amount of content that is shared daily means that misinformation can be propagated far quicker than it can get fact-checked or debunked.
Understanding how algorithms influence user behaviour is important to tackling misinformation. The personalisation of content, feedback loops, the complexity of network structures, and the role of superspreaders all work together to create a challenging environment where misinformation thrives. Hence, highlighting the importance of countering misinformation through robust measures.
The Role of Regulations in Curbing Algorithmic Misinformation
The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) applicable in the EU is one of the regulations that aims to increase the responsibilities of tech companies and ensure that their algorithms do not promote harmful content. These regulatory frameworks play an important role they can be used to establish mechanisms for users to appeal against the algorithmic decisions and ensure that these systems do not disproportionately suppress legitimate voices. Independent oversight and periodic audits can ensure that algorithms are not biased or used maliciously. Self-regulation and Platform regulation are the first steps that can be taken to regulate misinformation. By fostering a more transparent and accountable ecosystem, regulations help mitigate the negative effects of algorithmic misinformation, thereby protecting the integrity of information that is shared online. In the Indian context, the Intermediary Guidelines, 2023, Rule 3(1)(b)(v) explicitly prohibits the dissemination of misinformation on digital platforms. The ‘Intermediaries’ are obliged to ensure reasonable efforts to prevent users from hosting, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, transmitting, storing, updating, or sharing any information related to the 11 listed user harms or prohibited content. This rule aims to ensure platforms identify and swiftly remove misinformation, and false or misleading content.
Cyberpeace Outlook
Understanding how algorithms prioritise content will enable users to critically evaluate the information they encounter and recognise potential biases. Such cognitive defenses can empower individuals to question the sources of the information and report misleading content effectively. In the future of algorithms in information moderation, platforms should evolve toward more transparent, user-driven systems where algorithms are optimised not just for engagement but for accuracy and fairness. Incorporating advanced AI moderation tools, coupled with human oversight can improve the detection and reduction of harmful and misleading content. Collaboration between regulatory bodies, tech companies, and users will help shape the algorithms landscape to promote a healthier, more informed digital environment.
References:
- https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/misformation-spreads-like-a-nuclear-reaction-on-the-internet/
- https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/09/want-to-fight-misinformation-teach-people-how-algorithms-work/
- Press Release: Press Information Bureau (pib.gov.in)
Executive Summary
As India concluded its 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2026, with grandeur and patriotic enthusiasm along the iconic Kartavya Path, a video began circulating on social media claiming to show Indian security personnel failing to perform motorcycle stunts during the ceremonial parade. The short clip allegedly depicts soldiers attempting high-risk, synchronised motorcycle manoeuvres, only to lose balance and fall off their bikes. The visuals were widely shared online with mocking captions, suggesting incompetence during a nationally televised event. However, an research by the CyberPeace found that the video is not authentic and was digitally generated using artificial intelligence.
Claim
A Pakistan-based X user, Sadaf Baloch (@sadafzbaloch), shared the video on January 27, claiming it showed Indian security personnel failing to execute motorcycle stunts during the Republic Day parade held on January 26, 2026. While sharing the clip, the user wrote:“Every time the Indian Army tries a tactical stunt, it looks less like combat training and more like a low-budget circus trailer filmed in one take.”The post was widely circulated with similar narratives questioning the professionalism of Indian forces.
Here is the link and archive link to the post, along with a screenshot.
To verify the authenticity of the viral video, the Desk conducted a detailed frame-by-frame analysis. During the examination, a watermark linked to ‘Sora’—an AI text-to-video generation model was detected at the 00:05 timestamp. The presence of this watermark strongly indicated that the video was artificially generated and not recorded during a real-world event.
Fact Check:
Further visual scrutiny revealed several inconsistencies commonly associated with AI-generated content. The background appeared unnatural and lacked realistic depth, while the movements and reactions of the security personnel looked mechanically exaggerated and inconsistent with real physics. Facial expressions and body motions during the alleged falls also appeared unrealistic. To strengthen the verification, the Desk analysed the clip using Sightengine, an AI-detection tool. The results showed a 98 per cent probability that the video contained AI-generated or deepfake elements.
Below is a screenshot of the result.
As part of the research , the Desk also conducted a customised keyword search and reviewed official coverage of the Republic Day parade. A full-length video broadcast by DD News on its official YouTube channel was examined. The footage showed joint CRPF and SSB motorcycle teams performing traditional daredevil stunts without any mishap. No incident resembling the viral claim was found in the official broadcast or in any credible media reports.
Here is the video link and a screenshot.
Conclusion
The CyberPeace research confirms that the viral video purportedly showing Indian security personnel failing to perform motorcycle stunts during the 77th Republic Day parade is AI-generated. The clip has been falsely circulated online as genuine content with the intent to mislead viewers and spread misinformation.
Executive Summary
A video clip carrying the logo of news channel Republic is being shared on social media. In the video, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is allegedly heard saying, "If these radical Muslim terrorists do not back off from imposing terror-based governance over Bangladesh, our goal will be to finish them by any means. I will request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Bangla a single province by combining East and West Bengal. We will bring back a secular democracy, which I will lead in the future to restore Bangla to its secular roots." The CyberPeace Research Wing found that the visuals in the viral video are genuine, but the audio has been altered using artificial intelligence (AI) and is being circulated with a false claim.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the video claiming that Sheikh Hasina proposed merging East and West Bengal to create a single province during her recent address. The link to the post, archive link, and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1567119714918951
FactCheck
During the research, several key frames from the viral video were extracted and a reverse image search was conducted using Google Lens. The search led us to the original video of Sheikh Hasina’s interaction available on the official social media accounts of Republic News. The link to the post and screenshot are provided below.
https://x.com/republic/status/2084999748755554323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Republic shared the original video on its official X account on August 5, 2026. A comparison between the viral clip and the original footage revealed that the alleged statement about merging East and West Bengal into a single province does not appear anywhere in the authentic video. In the original video, Sheikh Hasina can be heard discussing the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies during periods of unrest. The controversial audio added to the viral clip is not part of the original recording. Further analysis of the viral video’s audio raised suspicion that it was AI-generated. The video was scanned using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which indicated a 91 per cent probability that the speech used in the viral video was AI-generated.
In the next step of the research, the viral audio was analysed using the Resemble AI tool. The results indicated that the audio was likely manipulated, suggesting that it had been altered using artificial intelligence (AI).
Conclusion:
The research found that the visuals used in the viral video are genuine, but the audio has been modified using AI and is being shared with a false claim. The claim that Sheikh Hasina spoke about merging East and West Bengal into a single province is false.
