Legal action over AI-generated fake Colombo flood videos

Newswire reports that Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar warned of legal action against people responsible for creating and circulating AI-generated videos that falsely depicted flooding inside One Galle Face shopping mall. Hiru News (සිංහල) and Hiru News (தமிழ்) also report the warning of legal action against those who shared fake AI flood scenes.

Newswire reports that a 14-second video spread on Facebook and TikTok after heavy rainfall on November 6 and 11. It showed water near the mall entrance and people walking through water by an escalator and an Under Armour store. Fact-checking organisation Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka assessed the footage as generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence.

Newswire reports that Fact Crescendo pointed to distorted faces, unusual lettering and unnatural water movement as signs of manipulation. The outlet says an AI image-detection tool gave a frame from the first scene a 99% probability of being AI-generated, while Google’s SynthID Detector found evidence of AI-generated or edited material in the second scene and its audio.

Newswire reports that Fact Crescendo contacted staff at several mall stores, who said floodwater had not entered or accumulated inside the shopping complex. Staff acknowledged that some water was reported in the parking area, but described the situation as less severe than the video suggested. Fact Crescendo concluded the claim that the mall had flooded was false.

Newswire reports that genuine flooding affected several Colombo roads, including areas around Galle Face. It says 129 mm of rain fell within a few hours on November 6, and further rainfall on November 11 caused flooding and traffic disruption.