Fact check: Social media channel of migrant's journey posts AI-generated videos
The videos on the channel appear to be AI-generated.
The facts
On four days between June 9 and June 13, the channel 'migrantvlog' uploaded 22 videos to the social media platform.
At the time of writing, the most-watched video had around 374,000 views on the platform. In total, five of the videos had more than 100,000 views. The channel had 1,647 followers and more than 11,000 likes.
Comments on the videos show some viewers realised that the videos are AI-generated. However, others seemed to be reacting as if they are real.
What evidence is there that the videos are AI?
There is clear evidence of AI generation in many of the videos. Most tellingly, several of the videos have watermarks for Veo – an AI video generation tool.
One video posted with the caption '5 star meorot we going' includes a section at around seven seconds where a man on the right of the frame seems to momentarily lose his arm. This video is one of several with a Veo watermark. The watermark appears in the bottom-right corner, where it might be obscured from some viewers by TikTok's display icons.
Between that video and another posted later the same day, the main protagonist's voice seems to change. The second video includes scrambled text on the front of a building, a hallmark sign of AI. At around five seconds, a man appears to pull a large camera out of his crotch, while at seven seconds a person sat in a chair appears to become translucent.
Another video shows a protest with men waving flags. The man behind the right shoulder of the person filming moves his arm in an unnatural way and the flag in his hand seems to appear and disappear.
A video shows a man running with a group while holding a burning Union flag. The flag is on fire, however the material does not appear to be blackening, and the way the men behind the protagonist interact seems almost ghost-like as they move through each other in unnatural ways.
In a video in which the man says 'thank you British taxpayers for feeding us this good food', a fork can be seen appearing seemingly out of thin air in the background while a man appears to pass a plate through his own hand.
Links
TikTok channel (archived)
Video titled 'money money great britin' uploaded on June 9 (archived post and screenshot of comments)
Video titled 'halal only' uploaded on June 13 (archived post and screenshot of comments)
Google – Veo (archived)
Video titled '5 star meorot we going' uploaded on June 9 (archived)
Video titled 'thank u British tax payers' uploaded on June 9 (archived)
Video titled 'control the enemy' uploaded on June 9 (archived)
Video titled 'goodnight britian reform suck' uploaded on June 10 (archived)
Video titled 'good food buffay' uploaded on June 10 (archived)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury enjoying very different summers ahead of comebacks
Joshua has recently been snapped enjoying some time away on the beach - just weeks after it was revealed he will make a return to action this year Anthony Joshua appears to be enjoying his summer, while British rival Tyson Fury continues to put the work in ahead of his boxing comeback. The two-time heavyweight champion has not fought since suffering a devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last September at Wembley. Both Joshua and Dubois seemed destined to face off in an immediate rematch, but 'AJ' needed some more time away from the ring after sustaining some minor injuries in their September showdown. The 35-year-old has since had surgery on his elbow and is eyeing a comeback before the end of the year. Joshua has been enjoying some time outside of the ring following the surgery and the 35-year-old has recently enjoyed luxury trips to Oman, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The Brit was recently given a hero's welcome and was mobbed by fans after touching down in Ghana last month. His little tour around the globe has not stopped, though, after he was recently pictured soaking up the sun in Mykonos, Greece. 'AJ' was seen wearing a pair of Under Armour shorts as he purchased a cigar from a vendor and shopped for a few bargains in the process at the beach. The Brit took a quick dip in the sea to cool off from the scorching Greek sunshine, showing off his muscular physique. With Joshua enjoying as much sun as possible, Fury - on the other hand - is continuing to put the work in after making a retirement U-turn. The 'Gypsy King' - who retired in January following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk - is set to return to the ring next year after Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh revealed that the Brit will fight again in 2026. Over the last few months, the Morecambe native has been seen training regularly. Fury continues to ramp up training ahead of his comeback and the boxing legend posted a video of himself going for a morning run on Thursday. While many fighters will be taking time off to enjoy as much sun as they possibly can, the 'Gypsy King' is seemingly taking no family trips away and is eager to get back into shape. Amid talk of a potential showdown between Joshua and Fury next year, the pair must get through warm-up bouts first. During a recent appearance on 'The Boxing Voice,' Alalshikh is eager to make the dust-up between the British heavyweights. The two stars have exchanged verbal jabs over the years, but are yet to resolve their rivalry inside the ring. While the Saudi boxing chief admits they are trying to host the fight in 2026 - both men would need to get through tune-up fights first. " Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next year, we are trying to do it and we are thinking about it," he revealed. "Why? Because they are both coming off losses. It's to build it up." Earlier this month, Joshua had vowed to "take the division by storm again" ahead of his highly-anticipated return this year. Speaking at the unveiling of Matchroom Boxing's rebranding, the heavyweight star is plotting a destructive comeback. He said: "I took a year out, first time in about 12 to 13 years as a professional, not even including the amateur stuff. "But I took a year out, get my body right. I'm at a different stage in my career where I can look at time a bit differently. I'm all these years in front of me like the main man here, so I've got to make like really executive decisions about what I do next. So the minute I come back, you know I'll come back with a bang rather than just keep rolling through and just going with the motions of the sport. I just thought, let me take some time out so when I do come back I come back fully active and ready to go and take the division by storm again." When is Anthony Joshua's next fight? Joshua is expected to make his return to the ring before the end of the year. Eddie Hearn has recently revealed that 'AJ' is now looking to move on with his career after continuously calling for a fight with Fury, but still hopes to one day settle the score with the 'Gypsy King' before calling it a day. In an interview with Sky Sports, when asked about the future of Joshua, Hearn replied: "Yeah, good, he had that operation recently... that elbow surgery, which went very well. You will see him return in October, November or December. We're looking for that opponent in the top ten. Deontay Wilder I think fights next week. "I know he is a name that has been mentioned. For AJ, like I said, 2026 I think could be his last year in the sport and it seemed to get headlined, but what else do you expect? That is three or four fights away. He cannot go on forever! He is motivated. Physically feeling good now to return to camp and ready for one little last roll to this incredible career. "Hopefully that involves a fight with Mr (Tyson) Fury. But after he is done parading his kilt around on Netflix, hopefully he joins us in the ring in 2026. It would be an incredible occasion for British boxing. But first thing is first, AJ will return during that period this year and obviously he must win and that performance will tell us a lot about the future of Anthony Joshua."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Celebrity MasterChef star shares true feelings on John Torode and Gregg Wallace
80s singing sensation Toyah Willcox competed on the first ever series of Celebrity MasterChef back in 2006 and has given her thoughts on the show's former co-hosts Former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Toyah Willcox has reminisced about her stint on the popular cooking show following the recent departure of judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. The BBC cooking competition, which was revived in the early 2000s, became a staple of British TV thanks to the dynamic duo of Torode and Wallace. Over several weeks, the pair would scrutinise the dishes of the contestants, gradually eliminating them until a champion emerged. However, the show's future is now uncertain after a report confirmed 45 complaints against Gregg Wallace, including an instance of "unwelcome physical contact" and three counts of inappropriate undress. John Torode faced one upheld claim of racism, which he has vehemently denied, expressing his shock and sadness over the accusation. On a lighter note, during an episode of the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, Toyah reflected on her experience competing in the celebrity version of MasterChef in 2006. Reminiscing about her time on the programme, the singer shared: "I did MasterChef with both Gregg and John and they were divine. They were lovely to be with." Taking part in what marked the inaugural series of the revamped programme, Toyah progressed through to the quarter-finals before viewers witnessed Matt Dawson claim victory in the competition, triumphing over Roger Black and Hardeep Singh Kohli in the final showdown. Beyond her stint on the programme, Toyah had already established herself in the late 1970s when she gained recognition as part of the new wave and post-punk movements that were flourishing during that era. Following a string of chart successes including It's a Mystery, I Want to Be Free, and Thunder in the Mountains, she subsequently pursued acting with appearances in films such as Jubilee and Quadrophenia, alongside stage performances in Calamity Jane. A BBC spokesperson has issued the following statement: "John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. "This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace – was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation. "He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. "The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
McDonald's in holiday hotspot boasts 'beautiful' surroundings and DJ until 4am
While you might think McDonald's restaurants are not fancy, this chain in a popular holiday spot begs to differ - it is inside a beautiful building where DJs play until 4am and there are light shows People have been left gobsmacked and saying "where has this been all my life" after discovering a unique McDonald's in a popular European party spot. When we travel abroad, many of us like to try out the local cuisine and avoid food spots that we can easily get at home. But, often, some of our favourite brands offer different menus we wouldn't be able to try at home. Plus, if you're partying all night and get the munchies you know you can relay on McDonald's at the end of the night. While we all know what McDonald's restaurants looks like, the menus vary by location to reflect local tastes and traditions - and there are a few which look nothing like the other eateries, such as the biggest McDonald's restaurant is in Orlando, Florida. In New Zealand, there is also a McDonald's where food is served from an abandoned aeroplane, plus there is a floating McDonald's service in Germany. Plus recently, fans discovered a rather spectacular McDonald's in Goshen, Indiana, located in what looks like an entire Medieval castle. Holiday experts at Travel Republic say that there are many more unique McDonald's eateries that many are unaware of - and look completely different to a typical McDonald's. One viral TikTok with almost 128,000 views shows the fast-food chain in Budapest transforming after 10pm with a DJ set and lights. The burger joint is called McDonald's Nygati and it is close to Budapest train station. It first opened in 1990 and even then was said to be one of the most beautiful chains in the world. Some have compared it to a "five star hotel",reports the New York Post. In 2024 the spot was closed for eight months of renovations, said to have cost over £3.6million. Old features inside have been resorted, touch screen tills have been added plus a new outside area. It boasts antique lamps, painted stucco ceilings, huge glass windows, and large terrace area to enjoy meals outside. Recently a video went viral of one customer, named Elena, showing off the beauty of the McDonald's following a first time visit. The clip showed the eatery looking like a nightclub after 10pm. On Friday and Saturday nights you can order a Big Mac and boogie on down as the immersive events see the grand ceiling inside the restaurant transform into a light show. You will see everything from a journey through space, fish swimming in the ocean or the jungle. Plus, there are also DJs spinning live decks between 10am and 4am. There are even special food options, including the Goosey Gustav burger, which has foie gras on top, and gluten-free buns. Food can be seen moving through the restaurant on conveyer belts, Elena showed in her video. On Trip Advisor, one individual said: "Worth a visit if you're nearby. It;s situated beside the train station in a beautiful building unlike any other McDonald's I've been too. Service was quick." Another wrote: "The most elegant McDonald's in Europe, on Fridays and Saturdays you dance from 9pm onwards is on the roof are projected lights and animations. Characteristic is the building adjacent to the Budapest train station."
