unknown-actors

What changed

A fabricated image purporting to show U.S. President Donald Trump using a walker reportedly circulated widely on social media in mid-December 2025. Fact-checkers determined the image was AI-generated, citing visual anomalies and detection of Google's SynthID watermark. The image reportedly spread across multiple platforms and was shared by a political strategist, prompting public confusion and debunking by news outlets and AI detection tools.

Timeline

1. 15 Mar 2026Reported Viral AI-Generated Photo Purportedly Shows Donald Trump Using a Walker
   Incident82%

   • Don't fall for photo showing Trump using walkerhttps://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-using-walker-photo/
   • Real or deepfake? Tips to help spot AI-generated images like Trump using walkerhttps://www.wcvb.com/article/ai-image-deepfake-what-to-look-for-trump-walker/69710193
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1302https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1302/

   Don't fall for photo showing Trump using walkerReal or deepfake? Tips to help spot AI-generated images like Trump using walkerAI Incident Database - Incident 1302
2. 28 Dec 2025Purportedly AI-Manipulated Image Reported to Falsely Depict Taiwanese Politician Kao Chia-yu Posing With PRC Flag
   Incident78%

   • 高嘉瑜赴中和五星旗合照？怒發文澄清：三前提下不會去中國https://www.nownews.com/news/6769270
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1320https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1320/

   高嘉瑜赴中和五星旗合照？怒發文澄清：三前提下不會去中國AI Incident Database - Incident 1320
3. 28 Dec 2025Senior Kerala Congress Leader N. Subrahmanian Reportedly Booked for Sharing Purportedly AI-Generated Defamatory Image of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
   Incident78%

   • Kerala Congress leader booked for defamatory post against CM Pinarayi Vijayanhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-congress-leader-booked-for-defamatory-post-against-cm-pinarayi-vijayan/article70438774.ece
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1322https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1322/

   Kerala Congress leader booked for defamatory post against CM Pinarayi VijayanAI Incident Database - Incident 1322
4. 12 Dec 2025Purported AI-Generated Sexual Deepfakes Allegedly Deployed in Transnational Harassment Campaign Targeting Hong Kong Exiles
   Incident82%

   • Hong Kong activist ‘terrified’ as sexually explicit deepfake images sent to UK neighbourshttps://hongkongfp.com/2025/12/12/hong-kong-activist-terrified-as-sexually-explicit-deepfake-images-sent-to-uk-neighbours/
   • Sexually explicit letters about exiled Hong Kong activists sent to UK and Australian addresseshttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/11/sexually-explicit-letters-deepfake-hong-kong-activists-uk-australia
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1301https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1301/

   Hong Kong activist ‘terrified’ as sexually explicit deepfake images sent to UK neighboursSexually explicit letters about exiled Hong Kong activists sent to UK and Australian addressesAI Incident Database - Incident 1301
5. 15 Aug 2025Alleged Marine Park Orca Attack on 'Jessica Radcliffe' Reportedly an AI-Generated Hoax
   Incident78%

   • Jessica Radcliffe Orca Incident A Hoax: The Truth Behind Death Video Going Viralhttps://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jessica-radcliffe-orca-incident-hoax-truth-behind-death-video-going-viral-1740693
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1175https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1175/

   Jessica Radcliffe Orca Incident A Hoax: The Truth Behind Death Video Going ViralAI Incident Database - Incident 1175
6. 20 July 2025Purported AI Voice Cloning Used to Impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio
   Incident82%

   • Marco Rubio Impersonated with Voice AI reached senior government officialshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/07/08/marco-rubio-ai-imposter-signal/
   • AI scammer posing as Marco Rubio targets officials in growing threathttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/08/marco-rubio-ai-impostor
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1141https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1141/

   Marco Rubio Impersonated with Voice AI reached senior government officialsAI scammer posing as Marco Rubio targets officials in growing threatAI Incident Database - Incident 1141
7. 3 July 2025Alleged Deepfake Audio Depicts Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Ordering Military Action
   Incident82%

   • ‘Deepfake’: PCO disowns clip of Marcos ‘attack order’ vs Chinahttps://globalnation.inquirer.net/233290/deepfake-pco-disowns-clip-of-marcos-attack-order-vs-china
   • Philippines Says ‘Foreign Actor’ Behind Deepfake of Marcos Urging Combat With Chinahttps://time.com/6971239/philippines-marcos-deepfake-china-foreign-actor/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 676https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/676/

   ‘Deepfake’: PCO disowns clip of Marcos ‘attack order’ vs ChinaPhilippines Says ‘Foreign Actor’ Behind Deepfake of Marcos Urging Combat With ChinaAI Incident Database - Incident 676
8. 2 June 2025Fact-Checkers Identify Viral Photo of Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré with 'Wife and Children' as AI-Generated Composite
   Incident78%

   • FACT-CHECK: Viral photo of Ibrahim Traore’s family is manipulatedhttps://ghanafact.com/fact-check-viral-photo-of-ibrahim-traores-family-is-manipulated/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1093https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1093/

   FACT-CHECK: Viral photo of Ibrahim Traore’s family is manipulatedAI Incident Database - Incident 1093
9. 2 June 2025At Least 294 Purported AI-Generated Music Videos Portray Celebrities Praising Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
   Incident78%

   • Hundreds of deepfake music videos are celebrating the president of Burkina Faso… why?https://observers.france24.com/en/africa/20250530-deepfake-music-videos-burkina-faso-ibrahim-traore-beyonce
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1094https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1094/

   Hundreds of deepfake music videos are celebrating the president of Burkina Faso… why?AI Incident Database - Incident 1094
10. 1 June 2025Purported Synthesia Avatars Used in Alleged Pro-Junta Deepfake Video Supporting Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso
    Incident78%

    • Someone Made AI Videos of ‘Americans’ Backing a Military Coup in West Africahttps://www.vice.com/en/article/ai-generated-video-burkino-faso-coup/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1091https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1091/

    Someone Made AI Videos of ‘Americans’ Backing a Military Coup in West AfricaAI Incident Database - Incident 1091
11. 1 June 2025Purported AI-Generated Video Portrays Pope Leo XIV Addressing Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso
    Incident78%

    • Patrick Madrid Exposes Deepfake Video of Pope Leo XIVhttps://relevantradio.com/2025/05/patrick-madrid-exposes-deepfake-video-of-pope-leo-xiv/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1092https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1092/

    Patrick Madrid Exposes Deepfake Video of Pope Leo XIVAI Incident Database - Incident 1092
12. 31 May 2025Reported AI-Generated Video Purportedly Depicting Keanu Reeves Debating Elon Musk Circulates as Misinformation on Social Media
    Incident78%

    • No proof Keanu Reeves debated Elon Musk about AIhttps://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ai-musk-keanu-reeves/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1086https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1086/

    No proof Keanu Reeves debated Elon Musk about AIAI Incident Database - Incident 1086

PSF mapping