Public figures in Poland shared digitally generated imagery to amplify the perceived scale of the recent Independence March in Warsaw, according to investigative reporting by Wiadomości Onet.
Authorities estimated the crowd size at up to 250,000 people, while organizers claimed a turnout of half a million participants for the annual march. Politicians from the Law and Justice party and the Confederation coalition utilized social media platforms to distribute photographs celebrating the event’s dimensions.
“Such crowds Warsaw has never seen! That at least worked out for Tusk!” wrote European Parliament member Anna Zalewska in a post featuring one such photograph.
Konrad Berkowicz, a member of parliament for the Confederation party, shared the identical image online with the accompanying comment, “Beautiful. Simply beautiful.”
Takich tłumów Warszawa jeszcze nie widziała! To akurat Tuskowi wyszło! 😀🇵🇱 #MarszNiepodległości pic.twitter.com/Bs2O3xg63F
TVN24 journalist Patryk Michalski identified geographical discrepancies within the widely circulated photographs that failed to match the actual layout of central Warsaw. Pointing directly to Zalewska’s post, Michalski questioned the architectural anomalies visible in the frame.
“Ms. MP Anna Zalewska, and where did you take such a beautiful photograph? Is some entrance directly to the subway at Dmowski Roundabout glazed? From which side? And one might get the impression that some of the lanterns have been moved closer to the middle of the road,” the journalist wrote.
Pani posłanko @AnnaZalewskaMEP, a gdzie taką piękną fotografię Pani wykonała? Jakieś to wejście bezpośrednio do metra na rondzie Dmowskiego jest przeszklone? Od której to strony? I można odnieść wrażenie, że część latarni przesuniętych jest bliżej środka drogi. https://t.co/k88jgAq7PE
Similar inquiries were directed toward Berkowicz regarding the identical visual material published on his account.
The fact-checking organization Demagog subsequently evaluated the authenticity of the images shared by the politicians, confirming the implementation of artificial intelligence tools in their creation.
❌ Po #MarszNiepodległości pojawiają się już obrazy wygenerowane lub przerobione w AI. Udostępniają je także politycy bez informacji na temat autentyczności obrazu. Nawet pozornie niewinna przeróbka może utrwalać fałszywy obraz rzeczywistości! https://t.co/nJlyEk1m6s pic.twitter.com/GF3y7SS93n
“After the Independence Force march, images generated or altered in AI are already appearing. They are also shared by politicians without information about the authenticity of the image. Even a seemingly innocent modification can consolidate a false image of reality!” the organization said in a public announcement.
The politicians in question have not issued a response to the allegations regarding the altered photographs, nor have they removed the posts from their respective social media profiles.
Berkowicz ukradł zdjęcie od @AnnaZalewskaMEP. Mam wrażenie, że trochę zmienili wejście do metra, trochę przesunęli latarnie, marsz szedł w drugą stronę, więc tłum po horyzont to prędzej był w drugą stronę. No ale czego można się spodziewać po Berkowiczu. Rzeczywiście piękne! pic.twitter.com/u5Joz6ra6C
