AI-Generated Videos Spread False Truckers' Strike Claims in Brazil
AI-generated videos were posted on TikTok from June 4, 2025, falsely depicting mass strikes by Brazilian truckers and motorcycle couriers in support of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Fact-checkers confirmed the videos were created using Google's Veo 3 video generation tool and contained no real strike activity.
What happened
A sequence of videos published on TikTok from June 4, 2025, attempted to convince users that a mass strike of truckers, motorcycle couriers and agribusiness professionals was occurring across Brazil in support of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The videos were generated by Google's Veo 3 AI tool, identifiable by the Veo watermark in the bottom right corner. The clips lasted eight seconds each, and showed fabricated digital scenarios of roads with parked tractors and trucks, and lines of motorcyclists.
Analysis using Google's SynthID detection tool confirmed the videos were synthetic. At 46 seconds in one clip, a person unnatural slid across a road rather than walking, further indicating AI generation.
Reported impact
The videos falsely incited people to join a political movement in support of Bolsonaro. No national mobilization of these occupational categories for the alleged purpose has been recorded or confirmed.
Index analysis
The narrative in the videos was repetitive and followed a scripted pattern designed to create a false appearance of veracity for purported manifestations that never occurred.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.