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Bizarre truth about viral photo appearing to show elderly couple stripped with rioters in France after police unions share it
The truth behind a disturbing photograph that appeared to show an elderly couple being stripped and robbed by rioters in France has been revealed.
The image, which circulated widely on social media, appeared to show an elderly man and woman in their underwear surrounded by several men dressed entirely in black, wearing face coverings.
The truth about the disturbing post
Unsurprisingly, it attracted almost six million views on X and was shared by multiple police unions as France experienced a wave of violent unrest over the weekend, after over 500,000 people took to the streets of Paris to protest cost of living issues and an underfunded, failing education system.
However, closer examination revealed several glaring inconsistencies in the photograph, while Google's SynthID Detector indicated that it had been created using AI, with French media reports also suggesting the image was produced using the technology.
Among the most obvious errors, two apparent rioters seemed to share the same pair of legs, while the elderly woman's hand appeared to be missing a finger.
Elsewhere in the image, two faces in the background appeared to have merged together, while another person seemed to be missing their lower body entirely.
Analysis using specialist detection software also identified an invisible watermark associated with generative AI, suggesting the photograph had either been created or altered using the technology.
AI verification confirms AI use
The original version circulating online was linked to Google's Gemini AI system, while a supposedly clearer variation was associated with OpenAI's technology, with both images reportedly containing an invisible watermark known as SynthID, which is designed to help identify content generated by AI.
Some of the world's biggest AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have signed up to Google's service to aid people in determining whether digital content has been created using artificial intelligence.
The photograph emerged after French media reported that an 80-year-old couple had allegedly been robbed and left almost naked by rioters at Place de la République, a prominent square in Paris where the rioters vandalized a statue and clashed with police.
However, local reports indicated that the alleged incident had not been confirmed by Paris police, despite several prominent social media users sharing it as though it was genuine.
Darren Grimes, a controversial Reform councillor and deputy leader of Durham County Council, wrote: “This is a truly horrifying scene from France. This is 'eat the rich' meeting its end destination. I hope each of these left-wing thugs meets the full force of French policing. Macron needs to go ASAP.”
According to reports, more than 2,500 people were arrested, while nearly 1,000 security personnel were injured, with demonstrators also hurt, including one protester who reportedly lost a hand after being struck by a police crowd-control grenade.
French President Emmanuel Macron rejected calls for his resignation and instead advised the country to develop new approaches “to put an end to the barricades and looting”.