MMDA: Photo of flood barrier on Edsa is AI-generated,…

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has issued a warning regarding a deceptive image circulating on social media that falsely depicted flooded streets along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa). The agency confirmed that the photo, which showed gutter-deep water and floating debris around its L-shaped flood barriers, was not an authentic representation of the site.

What happened

On July 11, 2024, the MMDA identified that a viral image circulating on Facebook had been digitally manipulated to create a false impression of flooding in Quezon City. Upon investigation, the agency determined that the image was a cropped and altered version of an original photograph published by the Philippine Star.

The original, authentic photograph depicted the MMDA’s pre-positioned flood barriers in front of Camp Aguinaldo, which were placed in preparation for Typhoon Inday. The modified version of the image utilized AI generation techniques and digital editing to insert garbage and floodwaters that were not present in the original scene. By altering the context and content of the photograph, the creators aimed to mislead the public about the actual conditions on Edsa.

In response to the incident, the MMDA urged the public to exercise caution when consuming information on social media. The agency emphasized the importance of verifying content through official and reliable sources before sharing it, noting that such manipulated imagery can lead to the spread of misinformation and cause unnecessary alarm among commuters and residents.