Fact Check: AI-Generated Flood Video Falsely Presented as Footage of the 2026 Nepal Floods

On August 26, 2026, a massive flood occurred along the Nepal-China border. Following the disaster, many social media users shared images and videos purportedly related to the flooding. However, some of this content was unrelated to the disaster, shared in a misleading context, or generated using artificial intelligence.

One such example is a video shared on X on August 28, 2026, by a user named amanda_npo. The 10-second video purportedly shows scenes from the flood disaster in Nepal. The video has been viewed more than 665 times, reposted 15 times, and liked 51 times.

 

However, a subsequent investigation revealed that the video was not authentic and had been generated using artificial intelligence. To assess the authenticity of the footage, the video was examined using Gemini and UncovAI.

The video was initially analyzed using Gemini, which determined that the content had been generated using artificial intelligence. Gemini identified several potential indicators of AI generation, including unrealistic water dynamics, unnatural movement of objects, and visual rendering artifacts.

The video was subsequently analyzed using UncovAI, which also indicated that the footage was AI-generated.

 

Frames from the video were also examined using Google’s reverse image search to determine whether the footage had previously appeared online. The investigation revealed that the video had been shared not only by amanda_npo but also by numerous other users on X. Furthermore, the footage had circulated beyond X and appeared on several other social media platforms. For example, the video was uploaded to YouTube by a user named bmcvlogs88 and was also shared by users on Instagram.

Notably, the video also appeared on the official websites of some news organizations. For example, CNN Türk published the footage on its website under the headline “Footage of the Flood Disaster in Nepal.” The circulation of the video by news outlets is particularly significant because it demonstrates how AI-generated content can move beyond social media and enter the broader news ecosystem, potentially reaching audiences who may assume that footage published by established media organizations has already been verified.

In conclusion, the investigation indicates that the viral video does not authentically depict the August 2026 floods in Nepal. Analyses conducted using Gemini and UncovAI identified multiple indicators suggesting that the footage was generated using artificial intelligence, including unrealistic water dynamics, unnatural object movements, and visual rendering artifacts.

Despite being AI-generated, the video circulated across multiple social media platforms and was even published by some news outlets as footage of the Nepal floods. This case demonstrates how AI-generated content can move rapidly from social media into the broader information ecosystem and potentially be mistaken for authentic documentation of a real-world disaster. It also highlights the increasing importance of verifying the authenticity, source, and context of visual content before publication, particularly during breaking news events when misleading or fabricated footage can spread rapidly.

 

If you suspect that a video, image, or audio file has been created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology and would like free assistance in verifying its authenticity, you may send the link to the content or the file itself to allaboutdeepfake@gmail.com

Fact Check: Viral Tiananmen Square Video Supporting Taiwan Independence Is AI-Generated

 

On August 23, 2026, a user named J4207Jin posted a 10-second video on X. The video appears to show a person holding a Taiwanese flag and chanting slogans in Tiananmen Square. The person can be heard saying, “Taiwan is not part of China, and it is independent.” The video has been viewed more than 30,000 times, reposted 13 times, and liked 64 times.

However, a subsequent investigation revealed that the video was not authentic and had been generated using artificial intelligence. To assess the authenticity of the footage, the video was examined using Gemini and HIVE Moderation.

The video was initially analyzed using Gemini, which determined that the content had been generated using artificial intelligence. Gemini identified several features as potential indicators of AI generation, including inconsistencies in lighting and shadows, unnatural movements of people in the video, and irregularities in the background.

The video was subsequently analyzed using HIVE Moderation, which also indicated that the footage was AI-generated.

 

Frames from the video were also examined using Google’s reverse image search to determine whether the footage had previously appeared online. The investigation revealed that the video was not first shared on August 23, 2026, but had circulated on different social media platforms several months earlier. The earliest instance identified during the investigation was an X post by a user named MinMin89485072 on January 1, 2026. The video was later shared on Instagram by a user named hellotaiwanese on January 4, 2026.

In conclusion, the investigation indicates that the viral video does not authentically depict a person holding a Taiwanese flag and making pro-Taiwan independence statements in Tiananmen Square. Analyses conducted using Gemini and HIVE Moderation identified indicators suggesting that the footage was generated using artificial intelligence. Furthermore, reverse image searches revealed that the video had circulated online months before the August 23, 2026 post, with the earliest identified version dating back to January 1, 2026. This case demonstrates how AI-generated content can be presented as footage of a real-world political event and potentially mislead viewers. It also highlights the importance of verifying both the authenticity and original context of viral videos, particularly when they involve politically sensitive issues.

 

 

If you suspect that a video, image, or audio file has been created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology and would like free assistance in verifying its authenticity, you may send the link to the content or the file itself to allaboutdeepfake@gmail.com

Images and Video Purporting to Show Iran Capturing Israeli and American Soldiers Were Generated Using Artificial Intelligence

On April 12, 2026, a 36-second video related to the war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States was posted on X under the username @MariaAlkaff_. The video purportedly shows Iranian soldiers capturing Israeli soldiers and depicts the treatment of the captured personnel. The post received 337 comments, was reposted 1,300 times, garnered 3,200 likes, and accumulated approximately 117,000 views.

 

However, the video is not authentic and was generated using artificial intelligence. It was initially analyzed using Google SynthID, which identified multiple indicators suggesting AI generation. In particular, inconsistencies in content, contextual coherence, and visual accuracy indicated that the footage had been produced using various AI-based tools.

In addition to SynthID, the video was examined using HIVE Moderation, another AI detection platform. The results from HIVE Moderation corroborated the initial findings, confirming that the video was generated through artificial intelligence.

 

 

A similar image was also shared on Facebook and Instagram on April 3, 2026. The accompanying claim alleged that the image depicted an F-35 pilot shot down by Iran on April 3, 2026, during interrogation.

Like the video shared on April 12, this image was also generated using artificial intelligence. Analysis conducted with SynthID revealed several anomalies—such as irregular physical features, lighting inconsistencies, and unusual environmental details within the interrogation setting—indicating AI production. Further examination using HIVE Moderation determined that the image was 92.5% likely to have been AI-generated.

 

In conclusion, both the image shared on April 3 and the video posted on April 12 are not authentic; both were created using artificial intelligence.

If you suspect that a video, image, or audio file has been created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology and would like free assistance in verifying its authenticity, you may send the link to the content or the file itself to allaboutdeepfake@gmail.com.