AI Deception How A Fake Photo Fooled Thousands

The Viral Hoax

Amidst critical talks at the White House concerning a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, a provocative image began circulating online. The picture claimed to show top European officials, including France's president, sitting in a hallway outside the Oval Office, seemingly waiting like patients at a dentist's office. This narrative was pushed in a viral post on X from conservative commentator Joey Mannarino, who has been previously fact-checked by AFP for spreading misinformation, including about Ukraine.

The post, which called the scene an "utter humiliation," quickly gained traction and spread across multiple platforms in numerous languages, including English, Greek, Serbian, Slovak, Polish, German, French, and Portuguese.

High-Stakes Diplomacy The Real Story

The image surfaced as European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for high-stakes talks with then-President Donald Trump. These discussions followed a significant summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump said he was planning a three-way meeting with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.

While Trump did meet with Zelensky in the Oval Office before broader discussions in the East Room, there is no evidence that the scene depicted in the viral image ever took place at the White House. The actual meeting included leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO.

Spotting the Fake Visual Inconsistencies

A closer look at a higher resolution version of the image (archived here) reveals tell-tale signs of AI generation. Despite advancements in AI, visual errors are still a common occurrence and serve as a key tool for spotting fakes. The inconsistencies include:

• A disembodied third leg, clad in black pants and a high heel, appears next to the man resembling French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Extra, unattached shoes are visible near the feet of the woman in the red dress.
• The carpet pattern is illogical, with a random blue rectangle and inconsistent yellow segments.

Fact-Checking The Attendees

Beyond the visual glitches, the individuals in the image do not match the leaders who were actually present. The leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, and Finland—all men who wore glasses during the meeting—are absent from the fabricated photo. Furthermore, the women depicted are not the leaders who attended.

For instance, while the woman in the turquoise suit has a haircut similar to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, AFP photos and official images (archived here and here) show she wore an orange jacket and top with black pants. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was also present, wearing a gray pant suit.

Official Debunks and AI Detection

Technical analysis confirms the visual assessment. The Hive Moderation AI detection tool concluded with 99 percent confidence that the image contains AI-generated content. Adding to the evidence, the image was officially debunked by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (archived here).

You can find more of AFP's reporting on misinformation surrounding the war between Russia and Ukraine here.