Thailand says photo of France’s Macron kneeling before king is AI-generated - South China…
Thailand's foreign ministry confirmed that an image showing French President Emmanuel Macron kneeling before the Thai king is AI-generated
- Incident date
- Jul 2024
- Target
- Emmanuel Macron
In July 2024, Thailand's foreign ministry issued a denial regarding a widely circulated image that purportedly showed French President Emmanuel Macron kneeling before King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The official statement clarified that the image was AI-generated and did not reflect the events of the state visit to Paris.
What happened
The incident began during an official state visit marking the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Thailand, the first such visit by a Thai monarch since 1960. During a state dinner at the presidential palace, President Macron presented King Maha Vajiralongkorn with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and Queen Suthida with the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit.
Following the event, a synthetic image emerged online depicting the French president in a kneeling position while presenting the awards. The fabricated photo gained significant traction on social media platforms within Thailand. One specific post featuring the image garnered over 40,000 likes and 2,000 shares within 24 hours. The reach of the misinformation was further amplified by a social media page with over 2 million followers, known for frequently publishing pro-military and nationalist commentary. The Thai foreign ministry ultimately stepped in to debunk the visual deception, confirming that the depicted scene never occurred.