AI-generated image circulated as Dhaka-Chattogram highway blockade scene
A photo has recently been circulating on Facebook. The post claims that it shows a blockade on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cumilla highway as part of the “Dhaka Lockdown” called by the Jubo League, associate body of banned Awami League. However, a fact-check found that the image was generated using AI.
On September 20, the image was posted in a Facebook group with the caption, “The ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ called by the Jubo League is underway, with the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cumilla highway blocked.” The image shows a large number of people on a highway, with vehicles stopped in the background and something burning on the road.
As of the publication of this report, the posts had received more than 2,500 reactions and more than 150 comments. The post had been shared about 250 times.
The image was attached to multiple Facebook posts (1, 2) with the same claim.
To verify the authenticity of the image, its various visual elements were first examined. Signs of inconsistencies and distortions were observed in the faces, hands and feet, body structures, and various background elements of the people shown in the image.
The image was then tested using multiple AI detection tools. Sightengine, an image analysis tool, reported a 99 percent probability of the image being AI-generated. Similarly, Hive Moderation identified the image as AI-generated with a 99.9 percent probability in its analysis.
In addition, when the image was examined using OpenAI’s image analysis system, it was identified as an image generated by AI. In other words, three separate technology-based analyses produced similar results regarding the image being AI-generated.
Also, no reliable news report or other photograph or video from the scene consistent with the scene shown in the image used in the posts could be found.
Therefore, the image circulating with the claim that it shows the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cumilla highway being blocked during the Jubo League’s ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program was generated using AI.
