Claim:
A magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China on January 7, 2025. A photo of a “buried boy” from the disaster subsequently went viral.
Fact check:
This photo is AI-generated. A netizen from northwest China’s Qinghai Province fabricated links between the image and the earthquake, misleading the public and spreading false information.
1. Source analysis
The image originated from an AI-generated video, which was initially posted by its creator on November 18, 2024, well before the Xizang earthquake. The original video was explicitly labeled as AI-generated and has been deleted by its creator since it went viral.
2. Manual verification
- Number of fingers: The most striking anomaly is the incorrect number of fingers on the right hand of the boy in the photo, a common tell-tale sign of AI-generated imagery.
- Personnel verification：Officers with the Cyberspace Security Protection Detachment of the Xigaze Public Security Bureau in Xizang confirmed that after verifying with frontline rescue personnel and cross-referencing local aid recipient lists, no child matching the description in the circulated photo was found. Based on their investigation, this photo of a child was not taken during the earthquake.
3. Official response
On January 10, 2025, authorities announced that the netizen from Qinghai had been detained for spreading misinformation by linking the AI-generated image to the magnitude-6.8 earthquake in Xizang, causing rumors to spread.
Verdict
This photo is AI-generated by an AI creator and posted on November 18, 2024. However, following the magnitude-6.8 earthquake in Dingri County, Xizang, China, a netizen from Qinghai falsely linked the “buried boy” image with information related to the earthquake. This misleading association caused the rumor to spread widely. The individual involved has since been detained by local law enforcement authorities.
