#Factcheck-False Claims of Houthi Attack on Israel’s Ashkelon Power Plant
Executive Summary:
A post on X (formerly Twitter) has gained widespread attention, featuring an image inaccurately asserting that Houthi rebels attacked a power plant in Ashkelon, Israel. This misleading content has circulated widely amid escalating geopolitical tensions. However, investigation shows that the footage actually originates from a prior incident in Saudi Arabia. This situation underscores the significant dangers posed by misinformation during conflicts and highlights the importance of verifying sources before sharing information.
Claims:
The viral video claims to show Houthi rebels attacking Israel's Ashkelon power plant as part of recent escalations in the Middle East conflict.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the viral posts, we conducted a Google Lens search on the keyframes of the video. The search reveals that the video circulating online does not refer to an attack on the Ashkelon power plant in Israel. Instead, it depicts a 2022 drone strike on a Saudi Aramco facility in Abqaiq. There are no credible reports of Houthi rebels targeting Ashkelon, as their activities are largely confined to Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
This incident highlights the risks associated with misinformation during sensitive geopolitical events. Before sharing viral posts, take a brief moment to verify the facts. Misinformation spreads quickly and it’s far better to rely on trusted fact-checking sources.
Conclusion:
The assertion that Houthi rebels targeted the Ashkelon power plant in Israel is incorrect. The viral video in question has been misrepresented and actually shows a 2022 incident in Saudi Arabia. This underscores the importance of being cautious when sharing unverified media. Before sharing viral posts, take a moment to verify the facts. Misinformation spreads quickly, and it is far better to rely on trusted fact-checking sources.
- Claim: The video shows massive fire at Israel's Ashkelon power plant
- Claimed On:Instagram and X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
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Introduction
Misinformation is a major issue in the AI age, exacerbated by the broad adoption of AI technologies. The misuse of deepfakes, bots, and content-generating algorithms have made it simpler for bad actors to propagate misinformation on a large scale. These technologies are capable of creating manipulative audio/video content, propagate political propaganda, defame individuals, or incite societal unrest. AI-powered bots may flood internet platforms with false information, swaying public opinion in subtle ways. The spread of misinformation endangers democracy, public health, and social order. It has the potential to affect voter sentiments, erode faith in the election process, and even spark violence. Addressing misinformation includes expanding digital literacy, strengthening platform detection capabilities, incorporating regulatory checks, and removing incorrect information.
AI's Role in Misinformation Creation
AI's growth in its capabilities to generate content have grown exponentially in recent years. Legitimate uses or purposes of AI many-a-times take a backseat and result in the exploitation of content that already exists on the internet. One of the main examples of misinformation flooding the internet is when AI-powered bots flood social media platforms with fake news at a scale and speed that makes it impossible for humans to track and figure out whether the same is true or false.
The netizens in India are greatly influenced by viral content on social media. AI-generated misinformation can have particularly negative consequences. Being literate in the traditional sense of the word does not automatically guarantee one the ability to parse through the nuances of social media content authenticity and impact. Literacy, be it social media literacy or internet literacy, is under attack and one of the main contributors to this is the rampant rise of AI-generated misinformation. Some of the most common examples of misinformation that can be found are related to elections, public health, and communal issues. These issues have one common factor that connects them, which is that they evoke strong emotions in people and as such can go viral very quickly and influence social behaviour, to the extent that they may lead to social unrest, political instability and even violence. Such developments lead to public mistrust in the authorities and institutions, which is dangerous in any economy, but even more so in a country like India which is home to a very large population comprising a diverse range of identity groups.
Misinformation and Gen AI
Generative AI (GAI) is a powerful tool that allows individuals to create massive amounts of realistic-seeming content, including imitating real people's voices and creating photos and videos that are indistinguishable from reality. Advanced deepfake technology blurs the line between authentic and fake. However, when used smartly, GAI is also capable of providing a greater number of content consumers with trustworthy information, counteracting misinformation.
Generative AI (GAI) is a technology that has entered the realm of autonomous content production and language creation, which is linked to the issue of misinformation. It is often difficult to determine if content originates from humans or machines and if we can trust what we read, see, or hear. This has led to media users becoming more confused about their relationship with media platforms and content and highlighted the need for a change in traditional journalistic principles.
We have seen a number of different examples of GAI in action in recent times, from fully AI-generated fake news websites to fake Joe Biden robocalls telling the Democrats in the U.S. not to vote. The consequences of such content and the impact it could have on life as we know it are almost too vast to even comprehend at present. If our ability to identify reality is quickly fading, how will we make critical decisions or navigate the digital landscape safely? As such, the safe and ethical use and applications of this technology needs to be a top global priority.
Challenges for Policymakers
AI's ability to generate anonymous content makes it difficult to hold perpetrators accountable due to the massive amount of data generated. The decentralised nature of the internet further complicates regulation efforts, as misinformation can spread across multiple platforms and jurisdictions. Balancing the need to protect the freedom of speech and expression with the need to combat misinformation is a challenge. Over-regulation could stifle legitimate discourse, while under-regulation could allow misinformation to propagate unchecked. India's multilingual population adds more layers to already-complex issue, as AI-generated misinformation is tailored to different languages and cultural contexts, making it harder to detect and counter. Therefore, developing strategies catering to the multilingual population is necessary.
Potential Solutions
To effectively combat AI-generated misinformation in India, an approach that is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional is essential. Some potential solutions are as follows:
- Developing a framework that is specific in its application to address AI-generated content. It should include stricter penalties for the originator and spreader and dissemination of fake content in proportionality to its consequences. The framework should establish clear and concise guidelines for social media platforms to ensure that proactive measures are taken to detect and remove AI-generated misinformation.
- Investing in tools that are driven by AI for customised detection and flagging of misinformation in real time. This can help in identifying deepfakes, manipulated images, and other forms of AI-generated content.
- The primary aim should be to encourage different collaborations between tech companies, cyber security orgnisations, academic institutions and government agencies to develop solutions for combating misinformation.
- Digital literacy programs will empower individuals by training them to evaluate online content. Educational programs in schools and communities teach critical thinking and media literacy skills, enabling individuals to better discern between real and fake content.
Conclusion
AI-generated misinformation presents a significant threat to India, and it is safe to say that the risks posed are at scale with the rapid rate at which the nation is developing technologically. As the country moves towards greater digital literacy and unprecedented mobile technology adoption, one must be cognizant of the fact that even a single piece of misinformation can quickly and deeply reach and influence a large portion of the population. Indian policymakers need to rise to the challenge of AI-generated misinformation and counteract it by developing comprehensive strategies that not only focus on regulation and technological innovation but also encourage public education. AI technologies are misused by bad actors to create hyper-realistic fake content including deepfakes and fabricated news stories, which can be extremely hard to distinguish from the truth. The battle against misinformation is complex and ongoing, but by developing and deploying the right policies, tools, digital defense frameworks and other mechanisms, we can navigate these challenges and safeguard the online information landscape.
References:
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-ai-powered-tools-deepfakes-pose-a-misinformation-challenge-for-internet-users/articleshow/98770592.cms?from=mdr
- https://www.dw.com/en/india-ai-driven-political-messaging-raises-ethical-dilemma/a-69172400
- https://pure.rug.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/975865684/proceedings.pdf#page=62
Executive Summary:
A viral image circulating on social media claims it to be a natural optical illusion from Epirus, Greece. However, upon fact-checking, it was found that the image is an AI-generated artwork created by Iranian artist Hamidreza Edalatnia using the Stable Diffusion AI tool. CyberPeace Research Team found it through reverse image search and analysis with an AI content detection tool named HIVE Detection, which indicated a 100% likelihood of AI generation. The claim of the image being a natural phenomenon from Epirus, Greece, is false, as no evidence of such optical illusions in the region was found.
Claims:
The viral image circulating on social media depicts a natural optical illusion from Epirus, Greece. Users share on X (formerly known as Twitter), YouTube Video, and Facebook. It’s spreading very fast across Social Media.
Similar Posts:
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the Posts, the CyberPeace Research Team first checked for any Synthetic Media detection, and the Hive AI Detection tool found it to be 100% AI generated, which is proof that the Image is AI Generated. Then, we checked for the source of the image and did a reverse image search for it. We landed on similar Posts from where an Instagram account is linked, and the account of similar visuals was made by the creator named hamidreza.edalatnia. The account we landed posted a photo of similar types of visuals.
We searched for the viral image in his account, and it was confirmed that the viral image was created by this person.
The Photo was posted on 10th December, 2023 and he mentioned using AI Stable Diffusion the image was generated . Hence, the Claim made in the Viral image of the optical illusion from Epirus, Greece is Misleading.
Conclusion:
The image claiming to show a natural optical illusion in Epirus, Greece, is not genuine, and it's False. It is an artificial artwork created by Hamidreza Edalatnia, an artist from Iran, using the artificial intelligence tool Stable Diffusion. Hence the claim is false.
Executive Summary:
A viral online video claims Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promotes an investment project. However, the CyberPeace Research Team has confirmed that the video is a deepfake, created using AI technology to manipulate Trudeau's facial expressions and voice. The original footage has no connection to any investment project. The claim that Justin Trudeau endorses this project is false and misleading.
Claims:
A viral video falsely claims that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is endorsing an investment project.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the viral posts, we conducted a Google Lens search on the keyframes of the video. The search led us to various legitimate sources featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, none of which included promotion of any investment projects. The viral video exhibited signs of digital manipulation, prompting a deeper investigation.
We used AI detection tools, such as TrueMedia, to analyze the video. The analysis confirmed with 99.8% confidence that the video was a deepfake. The tools identified "substantial evidence of manipulation," particularly in the facial movements and voice, which were found to be artificially generated.
Additionally, an extensive review of official statements and interviews with Prime Minister Trudeau revealed no mention of any such investment project. No credible reports were found linking Trudeau to this promotion, further confirming the video’s inauthenticity.
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming that Justin Trudeau promotes an investment project is a deepfake. The research using various tools such as Google Lens, AI detection tool confirms that the video is manipulated using AI technology. Additionally, there is no information in any official sources. Thus, the CyberPeace Research Team confirms that the video was manipulated using AI technology, making the claim false and misleading.
- Claim: Justin Trudeau promotes an investment project viral on social media.
- Claimed on: Facebook
- Fact Check: False & Misleading
