FACT-CHECK: Image of Marcos Jr. collapsing is AI-generated

admin 8:19 PM

CLAIM: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. collapsed at a Palace event on April 9. 

 

RATING: FALSE

 

A Facebook post used AI-generated images to falsely show President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. collapsing during a function in Malacañang.

Flagged content: The photos were uploaded on Facebook on April 9, with a caption falsely claiming that the incident was captured during a livestream. 

  • Facebook user Izang Wineland uploaded the images in Facebook group “Duterte Supporters,” claiming that “He’s even live right now and Enrile is there… “the drugged-out supporters will probably say” the photos were fake.

AI-generated: The post consists of three photos of the president supposedly falling and being carried by four men. All three photos have been confirmed to be AI-generated.

  • FakeImageDetector.com found an 80% likelihood that all three images are “computer generated or modified.”
  • In the second picture, the arms and hands of the president as well as of the men that were carrying him appear to be muddled and deformed, a trait consistent with AI-generated images. 
  • A reverse image search using Google and Tineye did not reveal any reliable source that can verify the images’ origins.

Our debunk: The Palace has denied rumors of the president being ill. 

  • There have been no reports from reputable news agencies of the president having suffered a fall. 
  • Marcos was seen jogging outside Malacañang on April 13 and carrying sacks of rice during a distribution event on April 16.

Palace statements: Palace Press Officer Clare Castro said in a press briefing on April 6 that the president was “definitely” well. 

  • Marcos Jr. himself said he was “in very good health” in a press conference on April 13.  

Rewind: The post was uploaded on April 9 amid rumors of the president’s declining health and continued tension between the Marcos administration and the Duterte  camp. 

  • Marcos Jr.’s absence in an event with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on April 6 raised questions pertaining to his health. 
  • In January, similar rumors arose when the president was diagnosed with diverticulitis. 

Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the Facebook post has drawn 101 likes, 49 comments, and 50 shares.

  • Facebook account Izang Wineland has over 220,000 followers.

Spot the fake: Stay vigilant against suspicious and inflammatory posts.

  • Check with official websites and reputable news outlets to confirm the facts. 
  • Learn to spot artifacts, inconsistencies and other common traits of AI-generated content to detect false information. Khloe Lim


IFCN Signatory Badge

PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.

The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at factcheck@pressone.ph.

If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy


Tags
Reactions

Post a Comment

0 Comments