Thursday, November 14, 2024

Can artificial intelligence become a deterrent for photojournalists? Amnesty’s AI-generated images pull flak

World Desk : dhakamirror.com

Photo: Sourced from Instagram

The systemic brutality used by Colombian police to bring down nationwide protests in 2021 was unfeigned and well-documented, but the images Amnesty International recently used to draw attention to the issue were fake, as per a Guardian report.

The international human rights advocacy organisation has since taken down the images that were posted in response to criticism for using AI-generated images to promote stories on social media.

The pictures show scenes from the protests that erupted in Colombia in 2021, including one in which a woman is being dragged away by police.

However, even a fleeting glance at the images reveals that something is fishy.

The image has a dystopian feel to it due to the smoothed-off and warped faces of the police and protesters, points out the Guardian report.

The protester’s tricolour contains the correct colours—red, yellow, and blue—but they are arranged incorrectly, and the police uniform is now obsolete.

Numerous cases of violence, sexual harassment, and torture committed by Colombian police during the unrest wave of 2021 have been documented by Amnesty and other observers.

Their research has increased awareness of Colombian police brutality and helped to solidify public support for reform.

However, media scholars and photojournalists have issued warnings that the use of AI-generated image could undermine Amnesty’s own work and promote conspiracies.

“We are living in a highly polarised era full of fake news, which makes people question the credibility of the media. And as we know, artificial intelligence lies. What sort of credibility do you have when you start publishing images created by artificial intelligence?” said Juancho Torres, a photojournalist based in Bogotá who spoke to The Guardian.

The 2021 national strike, which was initiated by a divisive tax reform and subsequently stoked by the brutal police response, resulted in at least 38 civilian deaths at the hands of state authorities.

Women were kidnapped, carried to abandoned buildings, and raped by gangs of policemen in cases reported by the Bogota-based Temblores.

As per Amnesty International, it has previously used photos in its reports but decided to put to use the AI-generated visuals to shield demonstrators from potential governmental retaliation.

“We have removed the images from social media posts, as we don’t want the criticism for the use of AI-generated images to distract from the core message in support of the victims and their calls for justice in Colombia,” Erika Guevara Rosas, director for Americas at Amnesty told The Guardian.

Torres added that Amnesty’s use of AI-generated photographs was disrespectful to photojournalists who cover protests from the frontline.

Related News

Thousands in Australia throng to see once a decade blooming “corpse flower”

World Desk : dhakamirror.com Thousands of people recently visited Geelong Botanic Gardens in Victoria, Australia, to watch the blooming ‘corpse flower’. According to CNN, thousands of visitors lined up in the south of Melbourne to see a once-in-a-decade-blooming Corpse flower and experience its smell. Corpse Flower, which is also known as Amorphophallus titanum or Titan ... Read more

Man crushed to death after trying to take selfie with elephant in India

World Desk : dhakamirror.com A man was trampled to death after trying to take selfie with an elephant on Thursday. Srikant Satre, 23, and two of his friends ventured into the Abapur forest in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli after receiving reports that an elephant had been spotted nearby. Once they saw the elephant, the trio decided to ... Read more

Ratan Tata dies aged 86

World Desk : dhakamirror.com India’s top industrialist and Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata died in a hospital in Mumbai last night, the company said. “It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata ... Read more

Robert F. Kennedy’s widow Ethel Kennedy being treated in hospital after stroke

World Desk : dhakamirror.com Ethel Kennedy, a social justice advocate and the widow of late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, is recovering in a hospital after suffering a stroke last week, her grandson said in a statement . “I wanted to let you know about my incredible grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. She has had a ... Read more

Woman eaten by shark while on dream diving trip

World Desk : dhakamirror.com An American tourist was eaten by a shark while on a dream diving vacation with friends in Indonesia. The body of Colleen Monfore, of South Dakota, was found inside the shark’s stomach after she was swept out to sea by strong currents, The Sun reported. Monfore, 68, and six friends were ... Read more

Dubai princess dumps husband in Instagram post

World Desk : dhakamirror.com Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, took to Instagram on July 16 to share a significant update. She announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Bin Mana Al Maktoum, marking a new chapter in her personal journey. “Dear ... Read more

Mummified body of US climber found 22 years after went missing

World Desk : dhakamirror.com The American man’s mummified remains have been found, 22 years after going missing while climbing a mountain in Peru, police announced on Monday. Peruvian police said ice melt had exposed Stampfl’s mummified and clothed body. He was identified by the passport found among his belongings. William Stampfl, 59, was reported missing ... Read more

12-year-old Isaac Bari graduates from US high school

Heads to college for double degree World Desk : dhakamirror.com Twelve-year-old Suborno Isaac Bari is graduating from Malverne High School in Malverne, New York, Wednesday, making him the youngest scholar to ever graduate from the history of the Nassau County school, according to Malverne Union Free School District. Suborno told “Good Morning America” he’s excited ... Read more

Man buried alive for four days is rescued after police heard his muffled cries

World Desk : dhakamirror.com In a shocking incident in Moldova, police rescued a man who had been buried alive for four days. A 62-year-old man buried alive for four days was saved after cops heard his muffled cries for help coming from underground. The horror came to light only after they were investigating the death ... Read more

Man crushed to death by robot in South Korea

World Desk : dhakamirror.com South Korean media, citing local police, reported that a worker at an agriculture distribution center in South Gyeongsang Province had been killed by a box-lifting robot. The accident at the factory complex occurred late on Tuesday, when the victim, an employee of a robotics company in his forties who was servicing ... Read more

Nobel Peace Prize 2023 awarded to Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi

News Desk : dhakamirror.com This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to jailed Iranian human rights activist, Narges Mohammadi, for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. According to the Nobel Prize Committee, Narges Mohammadi’s struggle has come at tremendous personal costs. She has been “arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and ... Read more

Joe Biden’s dog Commander removed from White House after biting staff

World Desk : dhakamirror.com U.S. President Joe Biden’s dog Commander has been removed from the White House after a series of biting incidents. “Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated,” Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first lady Jill Biden, said in a statement Wednesday. Commander was last seen ... Read more

Man dies, another injured after whale strikes boat near Sydney

World Desk : dhakamirror.com In the early hours of Saturday, a whale reportedly struck a boat off the coast of Sydney, as reported by Australian officials, leaving one man dead and another injured . New South Wales Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro said, “Early reports are that a whale may have breached near the ... Read more

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife separate

World Desk : dhakamirror.com Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire on Wednesday signed a legal document of separation as they decided to part ways after 18 years of marriage. “Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations we have made the decision to ... Read more

Body of missing mountaineer found after 37 years on melting glacier

World Desk : dhakamirror.com The body of a German climber who has been missing since 1986 has been uncovered on a melting glacier in Switzerland. DNA analysis showed the body was that of a of a German climber, who disappeared 37 years ago. A huge search and rescue operation at the time failed to find ... Read more

Bodybuilder Justyn Vicky dies after 210kg barbell falls on him

The ill-fated incident is said to have happened at The Paradise Gym in Sanur, Bali. World Desk : dhakamirror.com The bodybuilding world mourns the tragic death of talented bodybuilder Justin Vicky, 33. Bali’s fitness community is in shock after learning of the fatal accident at Paradise Gym. The accident occurred during an intense training session ... Read more

Customer mistakenly receives 40 million euros from German bank

World Desk : dhakamirror.com Banks, as a rule, very carefully control the transfers they make every day, since the money deposited there belongs to many people. However, it is inevitable that with so many daily transactions, some errors can happen. Still, what happened at a German bank is hardly a mistake. A person has received ... Read more

Canadian teacher fired from school after OnlyFans account exposed

World Desk : dhakamirror.com A teacher struggling to make ends meet is fighting to get her job back after she was fired for making OnlyFans content, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Kristin MacDonald, 35, was fired after eight years as a teaching assistant in Canada when she received a letter from board officials ... Read more

Silvio Berlusconi leaves €100m to 33-year-old girlfriend in his will

World Desk : dhakamirror.com His two eldest children Marina and Pier Silvio will control his business empire Silvio Berlusconi left a whopping €100 million ($109 million) to his 33-year-old girlfriend Marta Fascina. The three-time Italian prime minister and media mogul died on June 12 at the age of 86 after being hospitalised with chronic leukemia. ... Read more

Three generations of Egyptian family die during Hajj

World Desk : dhakamirror.com An Egyptian pilgrim died during this year’s Haj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. What makes this incident particularly poignant, however, is the fact that both his father and grandfather died during their respective Hajj pilgrimages three and five decades ago. The grieving family, hailing from Beheira Governorate, has been enveloped by ... Read more