AI-generated video misrepresented as 'massive protests' in Manipur

What's the claim?

A video showing a large crowd of protesters holding banners reading “Manipur wants peace” and “Rally for peace” is circulating online with claims that it depicts the current situation in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. 

A post on X (formerly Twitter) shared the video with the caption: "#BREAKINGNEWS The situation in Manipur has significantly worsened, with no coverage from Indian media. Frustration is mounting as thousands of people have taken to the streets demanding freedom from India.” The post had garnered over 14,000 views, 191 reshares, and 515 likes at the time of writing this story. Archived versions of the posts are available here, and here.

Other users on X who shared the clip expressed frustration that the Narendra Modi-led central government is ignoring the situation in Manipur. One user wrote, translated to English: “Why is this voice of Manipur not reaching the ears of the Modi government, or does it not want to listen?” Archived versions of these posts can be found here, here, and here. The footage has also gained traction on Facebook with similar narratives. An archived version of such a post can be found here.

Screenshot of the viral claims online. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

The claim emerged amid recent incidents of violence in Manipur, which has experienced tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023. An Indian Express report details that eleven people have been killed since September 11 in various incidents, leading to widespread protests. A curfew has been imposed, and the internet has been suspended in the valley districts of the state.

However, this widely shared clip does not show recent protests; it was created using artificial intelligence (AI).

What we found

Using a reverse image search, Logically Facts discovered that the same video was shared on Instagram on February 1, 2024, by a user named ‘Manab Jyoti Gogoi’ (archived here). Gogoi identifies as a “Digital creator,” and the caption clearly states that the images are “AI-generated.”

Further investigation revealed that Gogoi’s Instagram account has previously featured similar AI-generated images and videos related to other issues in India, including violence in Manipur. Logically Facts has contacted Gogoi for a comment and will update this article upon receiving a response.

Additionally, the clip was analyzed using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which confirmed with 99.8 percent certainty that the video was AI-generated. We also ran the video on ‘Itisaar,’ an AI detection tool developed in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur, and are awaiting the results.

Screenshot of viral video result shown in Hive Moderation. (Source: Hive Moderation)

Although protests have been observed in Manipur recently, this specific video does not depict an actual event.

What’s happening in Manipur?

The situation in Manipur has been tense and volatile in recent months. Despite periods of relative calm, sporadic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities continue. On September 6, 2024, a 70-year-old man was killed, and at least five others were injured in a rocket bomb attack on a house in Moirang. Hours later, six more people were killed in Jiribam district on September 7. 

This surge in violence has heightened tensions, leading to further protests. In response, the Manipur government imposed curfews in several districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, and Thoubal, to "maintain public safety" amid the ongoing clashes, according to the reports.

The verdict

Although protests continue in Manipur, the widely circulated video claiming to show these events is AI-generated and does not show actual footage from the region.