Amnesty retracts AI-generated images of Colombian protests following the backlash

Amnesty International, a human rights advocacy organization, has withdrawn the artificial intelligence (AI) generated graphics it used in a campaign to highlight police brutality in Colombia during major protests in 2021. According to reports, the organization came under fire for employing AI to create the photos for its social media profiles. The Guardian on May 2 highlighted one image in particular. In 2021, it shows a woman being taken away by police amid demonstrations over significant and pervasive economic and social inequality in Colombia. A closer inspection reveals a number inconsistencies in the photograph, like the uncanny-looking faces, the outdated police gear, and the protester who looks to be somehow wrapped in a flag that is not the legitimate Colombian flag. Each image also has a disclaimer at the bottom stating that it was created by artificial intelligence. [caption id="attachment_168592" align="aligncenter" width="1268"] AI-generated image from Amnesty International. Source: Twitter[/caption] According to Amnesty International, it decided to employ AI to create images to shield demonstrators from potential governmental retaliation. Director of Amnesty International's Americas, Erika Guevara Rosas, stated:

“We have removed the images from social media posts, as we don’t want the criticism for the use of AI-generated images to distract from the core message in support of the victims and their calls for justice in Colombia,”

The use of the photographs was criticized by photojournalists, who noted that in today's very divisive climate of false news, people are more prone to doubt the veracity of the media. AI is being utilized more and more to create photos and other visual products. The American Republican Party used AI graphics in its electoral campaign, as seen in a video produced by HustleGPT founder Dave Craige in the latter part of April. Media scholar Roland Meyer expressed his views on the deleted images stating “image synthesis reproduces and reinforces visual stereotypes almost by default,” before adding they were “ultimately nothing more than propaganda.”

I can’t imagine an org that should NEVER use AI imagery more than @amnesty. These are real issues impacting the safety of real people in the real world. Photojournalists are out there documenting the reality. Using pretend imagery only hurts those who are suffering. pic.twitter.com/hN0SPvOFYi

— Shah Selbe (@shahselbe) April 30, 2023

AI is being utilized more and more to create photos and other visual products. The American Republican Party used AI graphics in its electoral campaign, as seen in a video produced by HustleGPT founder Dave Craige in the latter part of April. Twitter users posted additional photographs in late April that Amnesty has now removed. Also read : Twitter to start granting “general amnesty” to suspended Twitter accounts next week AI is being utilized more and more to create photos and other visual products. The American Republican Party used AI graphics in its electoral campaign, as seen in a video produced by HustleGPT founder Dave Craige in the latter part of April. “We all knew that AI and deep-fake images were going to make it to politics, I just didn’t realize it would happen so quickly,” he exclaimed.