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In early 2026, several major European news organizations discovered that they had unknowingly published AI-generated and manipulated images provided by the Iranian agency SalamPix. The deceptive imagery, which included fabricated scenes of missile impacts and protests in Tehran, circulated through international distribution chains, reaching newsrooms across Europe before the manipulation was detected.

What happened

The incident began when the Dutch news agency ANP suspected that a large volume of Iran-related photos in its database had been manipulated with artificial intelligence, leading to the removal of approximately 1,000 images. The reach of these images was extensive; SalamPix had provided the content to the French agency Abaca Press, which then distributed the material to various international databases including dpa Picture Alliance, ddp, and Imago Images. From there, the images were purchased and published by prominent outlets such as RTL Nieuws, Der Spiegel, and Deutsche Welle (DW).

As news organizations began to verify the authenticity of their visual content, they identified several recurring "AI glitches" within the SalamPix images. Common indicators included nonsensical pseudo-text that did not resemble Farsi or Arabic script, illogical architectural features such as bulging walls, and anatomically incorrect details, such as a subject depicted with mismatched shoes and feet. Vehicles in the images often lacked logical design, appearing as models that do not exist in reality.

Following the discovery, media organizations took corrective action by removing the images from their websites and apps and issuing public explanations. Many photo agencies responded by blocking SalamPix entirely or issuing "kill notices" to their clients. The event highlighted the logistical challenges faced by newsrooms during fast-moving crises, where the high volume of incoming visual material makes it difficult to distinguish between authentic journalism and sophisticated AI-generated fabrications. Despite the "agency privilege" that typically allows news outlets to rely on the authenticity of content provided by established partners, the SalamPix incident demonstrated that even reputable agencies can be deceived by high-quality synthetic media.