Thai border police have apologised for publishing an AI-modified image showing flood relief rescuers in combat gear and wielding automatic weapons in one of the hardest-hit cities in southern Thailand. Thai authorities have been accused of fabricating evidence in some past cases but netizens were split over the latest fakery, some condemning the manipulation of the image while others wished it was real. Widespread flooding has hit southern Thailand in recent days, with the government confirming that at least 55 people have been killed so far. The 437th Border Patrol Police unit published the image of gun-toting rescuers on its Facebook page after social media footage recorded sounds of shots being fired as volunteers on jetskis worked in a flooded neighbourhood in Hat Yai neighbourhood. \u201cBorder patrol ready to enter zone 8 today,\u201d read the caption, along with a laughing emoji. However, AFP factcheckers using Google\u2019s AI identification tool SynthID found digital watermarks in the image. A star-shaped Gemini watermark was also visible in one corner, indicating that the image was created using Google\u2019s AI software. The police unit apologised on Thursday and published the original picture, which showed unarmed officers in a boat wearing orange lifevests rather than helmets and body armour. Rescue supplies are visible in both versions. \u201cThis is a real image before it was made into an AI image,\u201d it said. \u201cWe apologise for any misunderstanding.\u201d No one has been punished over the incident, the border police unit told AFP on Friday. \u201cWe generated the photo just to show the public our readiness to enter the area,\u201d an officer told AFP, declining to give his name. None of its personnel working on flood relief carried firearms, he said. The manipulated post came despite Thailand\u2019s government-run anti-fake news centre issuing a warning on Facebook beforehand that said: \u201cDon\u2019t share AI images that mislead people and becoming obstacles to relief efforts.\u201d Netizens also criticised the use of AI. \u201cDon\u2019t do this again, you must understand the importance of communications during a crisis,\u201d one said. Others urged authorities to make it a reality, with one saying: \u201cFrom the heart of a local in Hat Yai \u2014 this is what people want.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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