Viral on Instagram: The Limits of AI Images Revealed by 'All Eyes on Rafah' | Release #196
cover image by mori_hero
Have you seen this image before?
Recently, an AI image with the slogan 'All Eyes on Rafah' has gone viral on Instagram, prompting calls to share real photos on social media. This phenomenon marks the first large-scale campaign using AI-generated images.
Why Are AI Images a Concern?
'All Eyes on Rafah' is a slogan drawing attention to Rafah in the Gaza Strip, used to raise international awareness of the difficulties faced by residents and to call for humanitarian aid and political solutions.
The original 'All Eyes on Rafah' image faced criticism because it was AI-generated.
Deborah Brown from the Human Rights Watch Group questions why a fake image was shared over 40 million times despite the existence of real images depicting the realities of war. 'People are posting very graphic and unsettling content to raise awareness, which gets censored, while synthetic media goes viral, which is concerning,' Brown stated.
The New 'All Eyes on Rafah' Photo
The image currently posted with the slogan is a real photo of bodies wrapped after a bombing. This new image has already been shared nearly 2 million times. Shared by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, the photo includes the text, 'We all shared AI images. Now let's share real images.'
The Origin of 'All Eyes on Rafah'
The original AI-generated image has been shared over 47 million times. The phrase 'All Eyes on Rafah' was spoken by Richard Peeperkorn, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), warning about the Israeli military's attack on Rafah in February. According to the BBC, this AI image was first posted on a small Instagram account by a young boy in Malaysia.
Revealed Issues with AI Images
The image has been criticized for being realistic but not leading to actual action. Some people call this 'slacktivism.' Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Daniel Etter condemned the image on Instagram, stating it is completely different from Gaza. 'Gaza is snow-covered mountains, collapsed buildings and buried bodies, burnt tents and trash, human remains. If you've ever smelled it, you'll remember that smell forever.'
The Power of Real Photos
In campaigns like this, sharing real photos on social media has been common. However, using AI images is a first.
Real photos have a strong impact on many people due to their reality and ability to evoke empathy. As the use of AI images increases, it is important to remain aware of the reliability of information and its impact.
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