Deepfake Video of Jandarma Applauding Imamoğlu Probed for Incitement
A deepfake video circulated on social media in July 2025 falsely showing jandarma applauding İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu during a court hearing. The Turkish Gendarmerie General Command officially confirmed the video was AI-generated and announced criminal complaints against those responsible.
What happened
A deepfake video circulated on social media in mid-July 2025 depicting jandarma (Turkish military police) personnel applauding İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu during a court hearing at Istanbul Çağlayan courthouse.
The Turkish Gendarmerie General Command announced on 18 July 2025 that the video was artificially generated using AI and digital methods, not depicting real events.
Reported impact
The Gendarmerie stated it would file criminal complaints against the social media accounts responsible for creating and distributing the false video, citing charges of defaming state institutions and inciting public enmity and hostility.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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