We’ve been examining footage of violent acts in Sudan, especially after the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), seized the city of El-Fasher. Much of the graphic content circulating online is authentic, but one viral image stands out: it was created using artificial intelligence.
This image depicts two men with guns looming over a woman holding a young boy. The ground shows signs of fires, hinting at destruction. However, this poignant scene is not what it seems.
So, how can we tell it’s AI-generated? First, the shadows tell a tale. The men cast shadows, but the woman and boy do not, a telltale sign of digital manipulation. The original post features a watermark that led us to an Instagram account where it was first shared. This user identifies as a “Creative AI Specialist” and explicitly marks the work as AI-generated.
Further analysis reveals flaws in the animated version of the scene. The arms of the woman and boy pass through one another awkwardly, indicating digital creation. Using Google’s deepfake detection tool confirmed it—digital watermarks were found in the image.
This trend of AI-generated images raises several questions. A 2022 survey by Pew Research highlighted that 48% of Americans believe AI will produce fake news that will be hard to spot. As AI technologies become more sophisticated, distinguishing between real and artificially created content could become increasingly challenging.
Not only does this phenomenon shape public perception, but it also impacts news dissemination, misinformation, and even political landscapes. Experts warn that we must stay vigilant and critical of what we see online. With social media trends evolving rapidly, the conversation around the ethics of AI in media is more urgent than ever.
For those interested in this topic, you can find detailed information in extensive reports published by sources like the Pew Research Center.

















