History’s most legendary works of photojournalism have captivated viewers by capturing an iconic moment that brings to life what might otherwise seem like a distant or implausible event. Would the images have the same emotional charge if these examples of challenge, struggle and camaraderie were not real?
Amnesty International has removed AI-generated images of protesters during a demonstration in Colombia from its social media after their use was criticized by photojournalists and other online commentators.
In one image, a woman draped in the colors of the Colombian flag is forcibly manhandled by police in riot gear. At first it seems almost familiar, reminiscent of widespread images of police brutality in response to a wave of protests against an unpopular tax reform in the country in 2021. At least 40 people are believed to have been killed by police, with many more missing, according Colombian Human Rights Ombudsman.
On closer inspection, however, the faces in this image are slightly blurred and the colors of the woman’s flag are in the wrong order.
The AI-generated image had been used by the human rights organization to promote an online website. report documenting the actions of Colombian state forces in 2021, which allegedly included kidnappings, sexual violence and torture, and calling for reforms.
Amnesty International’s campaign for police reform in Colombia. Photo courtesy of Amnesty International.
Amnesty International said it replaced the photographs that normally accompanied such reports to protect the identity of protesters from reprisals. The images were accompanied by a disclaimer text clearly stating that they were generated by the AI.
“Many people who took part in the nationwide strike covered their faces because they feared being subjected to repression and stigmatization by state security forces,” Amnesty International said in a statement. press release shared with Artnet News. “Those who showed their faces are still in danger and some are criminalized by the Colombian authorities.”
The organization said it consulted with partner organizations in Colombia and concluded that if Amnesty had the true faces of those who took part in the protests, “it would have exposed them to reprisals”.
Amnesty International said its “intent was never to create photorealistic images that could be mistaken for real life”, adding that the intentional inclusion of “imperfections in AI-generated images was another way to distinguish these images from authentic photographs”.
The organization removed the images from social media. “[w]We don’t want criticism of the use of AI-generated imagery to distract from the central message of support for victims and their calls for justice in Colombia,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Director of Amnesty. The Guardian.
Bogotá photojournalist Juancho Torres, whose work has often been published by The Guardian, told the newspaper: “We live in a highly polarized era full of fake news, which causes people to question the credibility of the media. And as we know, artificial intelligence lies. What kind of credibility do you have when you start posting AI images? »
Photojournalists may also worry about the threat AI-generated imagery poses to their livelihoods if the use of AI-generated substitutes for actual photography becomes commonplace.
“We take criticism seriously and want to continue engagement to ensure we better understand the implications [of using A.I.-generated images] and our role in resolving the ethical dilemmas posed by the use of such technology,” Rosas said.
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