AI-manipulated images of Fort Smith suspect vex police -…

Following a shooting incident in Fort Smith, AI-manipulated images of the suspect began circulating on social media, prompting police to issue a warning regarding their inaccuracy. The RCMP explicitly advised the public to disregard these images, noting they do not match the actual descriptors of the suspect.

What happened

Following a shooting outside a Fireweed Festival venue that left three people injured, the RCMP released blurry, low-quality stills of the suspect. Shortly thereafter, versions of these images processed by artificial intelligence began to appear online. The AI-generated versions attempted to sharpen the suspect's facial features and fill in gaps by guessing at details. While some social media users claimed they were sharing the enhanced images to help identify the individual, the RCMP clarified that the images were misleading. The police stated that the AI-generated photos did not match the suspect's description and requested that the public stop sharing them, as they hindered the investigation. At the time of the statement, the suspect remained at large.