'Authentic, not AI-generated': Rumor Scanner on photo of Buet protester's mouth clamped by DC Masud

The Rumor Scanner has run an investigation on a viral photo showing DMP's Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam clamping protesting Buet student Rafid Khan's mouth and stated that it is not AI-generated. 

On Thursday (28 August), the organisation revealed its findings stating, "In fact, the DMP portrayed an authentic photo as if it were AI-made."

The statement comes in the backdrop of Wednesday's protest, where police used batons, tear gas, sound grenades, and water cannons to disperse students of engineering universities from the Minto Road, in front of the InterContinental Dhaka, as they marched towards the chief adviser's official residence, Jamuna, to press home their three-point demand.

In light of this, the DMP in a statement posted on Thursday evening (28 August) on the DMP News, the online news portal of the force, said that the image was misleading and created using AI technology. The DMP also shared a post on this on its verified Facebook page around the same time, drawing criticisms from various quarters.

In its report, the fact-checking organisation said, "At the start of its probe, Rumor Scanner closely examined the image and found no irregularities typically associated with AI-generated visuals, such as distorted hands or faces, text errors, abnormal reflections or missing fine details. 

"None of these indicators appeared in the photograph."

It added that further investigation traced the original image to the Facebook profile of Bangladesh Pratidin Photojournalist Joyeeta Roy, who had posted a picture of the same incident at 1:06am on 27 August. 

Rumor Scanner contacted her and obtained the original file by email. 

According to them, Metadata analysis confirmed the photo was taken at 2:50pm on 27 August.

The same image, or alternative shots of the incident, were also published by multiple mainstream outlets, it added. 

On 28 August, Kaler Kantho published the photograph in a report. "Its caption said police beat engineering students with batons when they tried to march towards the Jamuna residence, crediting chief photojournalist Sheikh Hasan.

That same day, Rumor Scanner mentioned that Manab Zamin also carried a photo showing the incident, captioned as police baton-charging students in Shahbagh.

The Rumor Scanner also cited The Business Standard's Facebook page which published a similar photograph, taken by Staff Photojournalist Rajib Dhar, showing police using water cannons to disperse students on Minto Road while an officer clamped a protester's mouth during a scufle.

"Footage broadcast on 27 August by ATN Bangla News and Channel One's Facebook pages likewise shows scuffles between police and the protester seen in the viral image," said Rumor Scanner.

Citing the above sources, the Rumor Scanner drew its conclusion saying, "The DMP falsely claimed that the picture of a police officer clamping a protester's mouth was generated with AI. The image is authentic."