“No French flag is true.” In X, ex-twitter, reproaches are on all sides. In recent days, some Internet users have accused LFI of having added, thanks to artificial intelligence, French flags in an image of walking against Islamophobia, organized in Paris on May 11.
In the image, shared by Jean-Luc Mélenchon on the day of the event, we can see several LFI deputies in the first line of the event. In the background, Blanden protesters a series of flags, in the colors of Palestine, Rebel France or even French flags.
Four or six fingers?
And it is precisely the last one who is problematic. Users admit that the image has been retouched by AI to include French flags. “The notice is: ‘Add French flags’. No French flag is true,” says one of them.
Some would even have identified “three or six fingers”, obvious sign, according to them, the image was retouched by AI. In fact, if IA tools can generate Impressive images of realism of a simple written description, Hand problems and especially the number of fingers are still details that betray the use of an AI.
Some users shared a “zoom” in a hand of a flag bearer, where there are only four fingers. Another close in one of the hands is circulating. This time, the hand would have 6 fingers.
However, these closed are misleading. Unlike the statements in X, Ia did not modify the photo of the march against Islamophobia shared by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
First, the initial photo is not good enough to allow Internet users to expand the accuracy in the photo. Therefore, the latter had to improve screen capture using an AI, to reduce pixels and improve their quality. Enough to explain certain contrasts or certain vague elements.
In addition, in the alleged four fingers, it is possible to distinguish the contours from an hidden index behind the flag handle. “It is ultra compressed and difficult to distinguish,” recalls Ari Kouts, an artificial intelligence expert.
“There is no modification of AI”
With respect to the image of the “six fingers”, it is enough carefully to look at the image so that the additional member is none other than the palm of the person carrying the flag.
Other Internet users have exchange Screenshots of the Image detection tool generated by AI. The Sightengine tool indicates that the image would be “probably generated by the” with a very high certainty rate of 90%. For its part, Decopy AI detected signs of modification using an AI in more than 95%.
However, these tools may be wrong. Another free, undetectable software said, on the contrary, that the image was “probably created by a human”, with a 100%trust rate.
In addition, many images and videos taken during the event by Internet users or shared by LFI deputies circulate in X. In these shots, we can see French flags.
AFP also provides several images of the event on site. Again, the flags are present.
Contacted by Tech & Co, LFI’s communication ensures that photography “has suffered any modification using an AI” and confirms that “the French flags were present during the event.” On the other hand, the slight retouching to improve colors, sharpness or even cliché contrasts could confuse AI detection tools.
Source: BFM TV
