Key Takeaways
- A deepfake image of a victim of the Bondi terrorist attack has been circulating online, spreading false information about the attackers and victims.
- The image, created using Google’s artificial intelligence, has been used to promote antisemitic propaganda on Russian disinformation sites.
- False information about the hero of the attack, Ahmed Al Ahmed, has also been circulating, with some claiming he was not the actual hero and instead attributing his actions to a fictional person named "Edward Crabtree".
- Conspiracy theories about the attack have been circulating on social media, including a claim that one of the gunman’s names was searched in Israel in the days before the attack.
- Google has stated that its Search Trends site may show statistical noise due to privacy protections and/or low sampling volume, making it unreliable for determining actual search activity.
Introduction to the Spread of False Information
The Bondi terrorist attack has led to a significant amount of false information being spread online. This includes a deepfake image of one of the victims, which has been used to promote antisemitic propaganda. The image, created using Google’s artificial intelligence, was published on a Russian disinformation site and has received millions of views. This is just one example of the many ways in which false information has been spread online in the aftermath of the attack.
The Creation and Spread of Deepfake Propaganda
The deepfake image of Arsen Ostrovsky, a victim of the attack, was created using Google’s artificial intelligence. The image shows Mr. Ostrovsky with his face painted red and is accompanied by a screenshot of an AI detector, which claims the image is "100 per cent human". However, visual analysis of the image reveals it to be a fake. The writing on the T-shirt in the image is unreadable, and the "film set" in the background appears off. The image has been spread online, with many people believing it to be real. This highlights the dangers of deepfake technology and the need for people to be able to critically evaluate the information they see online.
The Invention of a Fictional Hero
In the hours following the attack, claims began to circulate on social media attributing the heroism of Ahmed Al Ahmed, the tobacconist who wrestled the gun from the terrorist, to a fictional person named "Edward Crabtree". Racist and Islamophobic posts on social media claimed that Mr. Ahmed was not the actual hero and instead attributed his actions to Mr. Crabtree. However, this claim has been debunked, and Mr. Ahmed has been recognized as the hero of the attack. He has met with the NSW Premier and the Prime Minister, and his story has been widely reported in the media.
The Unreliability of Google Search Trends
One conspiracy theory that has been circulating on social media is that the name of one of the gunmen, Naveed Akram, was searched in Israel in the days before the attack. Screenshots from Google’s Search Trends website have been used as evidence of this claim. However, Google has stated that its Trends site may show statistical noise due to privacy protections and/or low sampling volume. This means that for very uncommon terms, Trends data may appear to show some search interest even if there were no actual searches. ABC NEWS Verify has tried to replicate the fake spike in Israel in the days before the attack and found that it only showed a spike from about the time the gunman’s name was revealed by the ABC.
The Dangers of Misinformation
The spread of false information online can have serious consequences. It can lead to the spread of conspiracy theories and the promotion of hate speech. It can also undermine trust in institutions and the media. In the aftermath of the Bondi terrorist attack, it is more important than ever that people are able to critically evaluate the information they see online. This includes being aware of the dangers of deepfake technology and the unreliability of Google Search Trends. By being informed and critical, we can help to prevent the spread of misinformation and promote a more accurate understanding of the world.
