The Delhi police attempted to forcefully end the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar, by detaining Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, and Bajrang Punia on Sunday. However, their detentions seem to have made a contrasting impact and a morphed photo of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat smiling in a police vehicle has surfaced on Twitter.
The viral morphed selfie, which went viral on social media, sparked outrage amongst users and many bashed the wrestlers.
Nevertheless, a fact-checking process confirmed that the selfie was actually fake and it was found that the morphed image was created using a special AI editing application. According to Uzair Rizvi, a mobile application called FaceApp was used to make it look like that Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat and others smiling while being detained.
The viral picture featuring Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat smiling while in detention was made using an AI editing application. The morphed image served as a reminder to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of visual content before drawing conclusions or sharing it further.
IT Cell Trolls have started using AI softwares now
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) May 28, 2023
Look at their dirty tactics to defame Olympic Champions. First photo is real, second is manipulated. pic.twitter.com/5MXK2tNcEb
पहली और दूसरी तस्वीरों को देखिये. दूसरी वाली असली तस्वीर है. लेकिन पहली वाली तस्वीर में एडिट करके महिला पहलवानों को हँसते हुए दिखाकर कहा जा रहा है, ये एक्टिंग कर रही हैं. ये तो हंस रही हैं. कम से कम इन लड़कियों के साथ तो ऐसी राजनीति न खेलते. pic.twitter.com/8lNXG9dA5H
— Shyam Meera Singh (@ShyamMeeraSingh) May 28, 2023
A tutorial clip of how faces can be enhanced using an AI app, the same has been done in this photo using “FaceApp” to make it look like that Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and others are smiling while being detained. #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/icovm7eUx4
— Uzair Rizvi (@RizviUzair) May 28, 2023
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Bajrang Punia and others were taken into custody for violating law and order after breaching the security cordon while attempting to march towards the new Parliament building for a planned women's 'Mahapanchayat'.
Shortly after being detained, the police officers swiftly started clearing the protest site, removing cots, mattresses, coolers, fans, and the tarpaulin ceiling, along with the wrestlers' belongings.
With the assistance of several officers, the wrestlers and their supporters were placed onto buses and taken to undisclosed locations.
Image Source: Instagram