By Maryanne Taouk,Michael Workman,Jonathan Hair
Publication Date: 2025-12-17 19:16:00
After the terrible attack in Bondi Beach, falsehoods and conspiracy theories are spreading online.
ABC NEWS Verify analyzed three cases in which AI-generated images, or in one case a real-world image taken out of context, attempt to distort the narrative on social media.
Suspected shooter faked
An AI-generated image of suspected gunman Naveed Akram sitting in a sidewalk cafe in the Philippines was used to spread false information online.
A post seen by ABC NEWS Verify on
ABC NEWS Verify has confirmed that the image was created using tech giant Google’s AI tools, and there is no indication that Captain Kant Kothari ever had contact with the suspected shooter.
The image returns a positive result for the company’s invisible watermark when tested in its Synth ID detector.
Visual analysis also reveals features of AI generation,…
