ISLAMABAD: A disturbing tweet containing an image claiming to depict a burnt Israeli baby in the Israel-Hamas war has been confirmed as a product of artificial intelligence.
“The image that Ben Shapiro [a conservative columnist and commentator] tried to pass off as a “burnt baby corpse” was an AI-generated fake image!” said a tweet by one Jackson Hinkle.
This deceptive use of technology has been criticized as a tool for propaganda in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has already claimed hundreds of lives.
Gaza, home to a population of 2.3m, has been under a relentless 16-year Israeli blockade. According to the UN, this blockade has left the Palestinian territory in an unlivable state with half of its inhabitants being children under the age of 18.
The Defence for Children International (DCI), a Palestinian human rights organization committed to child rights has reported a grim situation there. Their record shows that, since 2005, six major military offensives in Gaza led to the tragic deaths of over 1,000 Palestinian children.
Holy sh*t
The image that Ben Shapiro tried to pass off as a “burnt baby corpse” was an AI-generated fake image! pic.twitter.com/spW7PlbpvH
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) October 12, 2023
The controversy intensified when conservative columnist and commentator Ben Shapiro shared the image on X, claiming a ‘burnt Jewish baby’ amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
However, several social media users immediately raised questions about the authenticity of the image. A subsequent investigation revealed that the image was, in fact, an artificial intelligence-generated attempt to propagate against Hamas.
Jackson Hinkle, one of the individuals who exposed the misleading image, tweeted, “The image that Ben Shapiro tried to pass off as a ‘burnt baby corpse’ was an AI-generated fake image!”
A third person said on X that, “Ben Shapiro tried to use a fake A.I. image to whip people into war. We live in dangerous times.”
The Israel-Hamas conflict continues with thousands losing their lives since the “surprise attack” by Hamas on Israel. In view of this alarming development, the use of AI-generated content to disseminate false information underlines the need for critical evaluation and responsible social media engagement, particularly during times of crisis. The attempt serves as a harsh reminder of the role the technology can play in shaping public perception and influencing the dynamics of international conflicts.
