Thailand denies AI image showing Macron kneeling before king

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially refuted an AI-generated image that circulated widely online, purporting to show French President Emmanuel Macron kneeling before King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The image falsely depicted Macron in a subservient posture while presenting the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour during the King's recent visit to France.

The fabricated image gained significant traction on social media platforms, with one Thai Facebook page reportedly receiving over 40,000 likes and more than 2,000 shares within 24 hours. The act of kneeling before the Thai monarch is a customary practice in Thailand, which has strict lèse-majesté laws. The image was also amplified by a page with over two million followers known for nationalist commentary.

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any image showing Emmanuel Macron kneeling to present the decorations.

However, a representative from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that there is "no image whatsoever showing Emmanuel Macron kneeling to present the decorations." The AFP fact-checking service analyzed the image using OpenAI's verification tool, which determined it was generated by AI. Further comparisons with official AFP photos of Queen Suthida during the visit revealed significant discrepancies.

President Macron presented the King with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's highest distinction, and Queen Suthida with the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit. The King's visit, accompanied by the Queen, marked the first by a Thai monarch to France since 1960 and commemorated the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. No official images released by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs depicted Macron kneeling during the ceremony or dinner at the Élysée Palace.

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generated with the tools OpenAI