AI-generated image spreads online

An AI-generated image showing an 80-year-old couple in undergarments, supposedly stripped by vandals during protests at Place de la République in Paris, has gone viral. The image was widely shared on social media and used by far-right groups in France and abroad.

Image traced to pro-Israeli site

The Observateurs, the fact-checking team at France 24, identified the image as AI-generated. They traced it back to a pro-Israeli news site, Infos-Israel.news, which had been flagged on Facebook for spreading false information. The site has been in the database of Next, a French fact-checking organization, for over a year and a half.

Far-right figures use the image

The AI-generated image was shared by several far-right activists, including Sirènes, Alice Cordier, Tommy Robinson, Santiago Abascal, and C14. Some shared it under the title "Islam conquers Europe," suggesting a narrative about cultural takeover. The image was also described by an Israeli far-right activist as an "alarm signal for the entire West."

Image inconsistencies noted

Fact-checkers, including Surligneurs, AFP's Factuel section, and RTBF, pointed out that the image was an AI-generated illustration and not based on real events. They noted several visual inconsistencies, such as a person in black with only one leg and a deformed hand on the woman in the image.

False claims about the incident

A video clip shared by the far-right news aggregator Fdesouche.com claimed the couple had been stripped and beaten. However, police consultant Dominique Rizet, who reported receiving messages from victims of looting in Paris, did not mention such an incident. The Infos-Israel.news article later indicated the image was AI-generated, though it had not been clear when first posted.

Paris prosecutor issues warning

The Paris prosecutor told CheckNews on October 19 that there were no reports of such an incident and urged caution with images claiming to document attacks. The Observateurs noted that the white border in the Infos-Israel.news montage matched the viral image, confirming its origin.

Fact-checkers investigate site

On October 20, France 24 journalist Nathan Gallo, who fact-checked the disinformation for the Observateurs, contacted Next to learn more about the site's inclusion in their database. He noted that a GenAI "flagging" extension, which alerts users to AI-generated news sites, appeared when visiting Infos-Israel.news and two other related sites.