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For several days, a fake news story has been circulating on social media, particularly in circles close to the far right, concerning a photo from the May 11 march against Islamophobia. The photo shows Jean-Luc Mélenchon and members of parliament from La France Insoumise behind a banner, with French flags in the background. Some internet users accuse these flags of having been added using artificial intelligence, based on anomalies such as extra or missing fingers. However, alternative videos and photos, as well as a response from photographer Claire Jacquin, refute these allegations by confirming the authenticity of the image. Recently, an image captured during the march against Islamophobia sparked controversy on social media. Some internet users, often affiliated with the far right, claim it was altered using artificial intelligence. To clarify the situation, Claire Jacquin, the photographer of this photo, explained the circumstances surrounding the photo. La France Insoumise (LFI) also expressed its position to debunk the allegations and provide evidence of the image’s veracity. A Controversial Photo The May 11 march against Islamophobia was at the center of a controversy, sparked by a photo showing Jean-Luc Mélenchon and other members of La France Insoumise behind a banner. This photo, widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), angered some users who detected anomalies. In particular, the French flags in the background have been accused of manipulation by artificial intelligence. Evidence put forward by critics includes supposed errors in the rendering of the protesters’ hands, a detail often attributed to poor AI adjustment. The Response of Visual EvidenceTo counter these accusations, one need only look at the video recordings taken by AFP that day, which clearly show the tangible presence of French flags during the event. Moreover, an alternative photograph taken by Badis Benmaghsoula at the same location further corroborates the unmanipulated reality of the scene.All of these visual elements underscore that the accusations are not based on fact, but on baseless speculation.
Photographer’s testimonyClaire Jacquin, who took the original photo, strongly denounced what she calls a « controversy fabricated by the far right. » According to her, this group does not tolerate the use of national symbols by left-wing movements, especially in the context of anti-racist demonstrations.She reiterates that the only editing carried out on her photo consisted of adjusting the contrast, highlights, and vibrancy, without altering any fundamental elements of the photographed scene. Position of La France Insoumise
La France Insoumise, through various statements relayed by France 24, has confirmed that the photo is authentic. They specify that the adjustments made are limited to a slight general visual improvement: « contrast has been added, highlights have been lowered, and vibrancy has been accentuated. »
No ghost flag, as some people falsely claim, appears in this photo.
To read Chaos chez Meta : une IA insoumise sème la pagaille en coulisses
