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Post-Courier debunks doctored social media graphic attributed to former ICAC Chief
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea /Culture & Society

Post-Courier debunks doctored social media graphic attributed to former ICAC Chief

From Post-Courier · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A manipulated image falsely attributing a quote to former ICAC Acting Commissioner Thomas Eluh has been circulating on social media.
  • The graphic, shared on a People's National Congress Party Facebook page, claims Eluh was forced into selective investigations by the current regime.
  • Post-Courier management has debunked the image, noting inconsistencies and an AI watermark, and plans to contact the party to have it removed.

A doctored social media graphic falsely attributing a statement to former Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Acting Commissioner Thomas Eluh has been circulating, prompting an official debunking from the Post-Courier newspaper.

The manipulated image, which bears Post-Courier branding, was shared on an official "People’s National Congress Party" Facebook page. It falsely claims Eluh stated, "I was forced to do selective investigation on certain politicians & Political Party leaders by the current regime."

Using AI to generate misleading text on our official images used on our official platform is very low for an organisation as the PNC.

— Matthew VariPost-Courier Digital Director commenting on the doctored image.

Post-Courier Digital Director Matthew Vari confirmed the newspaper never published the quote or graphic. "Using AI to generate misleading text on our official images used on our official platform is very low for an organisation as the PNC," Vari stated. He noted the graphic had physical inconsistencies, including a higher resolution text compared to the background and a visible Gemini AI watermark, confirming it was altered using AI software.

The newspaper plans to contact the People's National Congress Party and its leader to demand the removal of the doctored image. The authentic feature image of Eluh originates from a Post-Courier report titled "Lack of collaboration impedes fight against corruption." The ICAC has been informed of the deceptive image. Readers are urged to verify news graphics against the Post-Courier's official website and social media platforms.

We will be reaching out to the party and its leader to remove the doctored image clearly altered using Artificial Intelligence software.

— Matthew VariPost-Courier Digital Director outlining the newspaper's next steps.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Post-Courier. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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