Latest news with #Traore
eNCA
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Fake AI videos of R. Kelly, pope spread cult of Burkina junta chief
If you believe the viral videos online, R. Kelly and Pope Leo XIV agree on one thing that Burkina Faso's junta chief, Captain Ibrahim Traore, is a fantastic leader. The images are AI-generated propaganda, part of what experts have called a vast disinformation campaign spreading the "personality cult" of the west African country's strongman. Beyonce and Justin Bieber are among the other celebrities to have their faces and voices altered through artificial intelligence to shower praise on Traore. In one video, attributed to disgraced R&B star R. Kelly, the lyrics praise Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup: "for the love of his people, he risked it all... bullets fly but he don't fall... he's fighting for peace in his motherland." Kelly is serving a 30-year-prison sentence in the United States for crimes including the sex trafficking of minors, yet the song generated by artificial intelligence has been viewed more than two million times since it came out in May. The images have been widely shared on west African social media. It follows a wave of coups not only in Burkina Faso but also in Mali, Niger and Guinea, while the region is further destabilised by jihadist attacks. "These are influence and disinformation campaigns aimed at extending the personality cult surrounding Captain Traore to Burkina Faso's English-speaking neighbours," said an American researcher who spoke on condition of anonymity. - Restoring control - After seizing power in a coup in September 2022, Traore pledged to quickly restore control in Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by violence from jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Three years later, jihadist attacks have continued, causing thousands more deaths, and have even intensified in recent months. Several officers accused of attempting to stage a coup have been arrested and comments attributed to then head of US Africa Command General Michael Langley, accusing Traore of using the country's gold reserves for personal protection, sparked anger and protests. Around that time, a series of videos exalting Traore started mushrooming on social media. "Information manipulation has become a lever for retaining power and legitimising the junta's presence," said a Burkinabe specialist in strategic communication, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. - 'Digital army' - Viral campaigns mixing propaganda and AI-generated content have been shared by activists and English-speaking influencers, notably to denounce Langley and glorify Traore. AFP | Lisa O'CONNOR While some are riding the wave for their own financial gain, others are working for the junta's cyber propaganda entity called Rapid Communication Intervention Battalions (BIR-C), the Burkinabe source said. "They truly operate like a digital army," the source said, adding it was led by US-based activist Ibrahima Maiga, ruling out any "direct links with foreign Russian influence." But the group's anti-imperialist narrative, "presenting Captain Traore as the one who will save Burkina and Africa from Western neocolonialism... suits Russia, which amplifies it in turn," the source said. - Russian connections - But the American researcher noted "some reports have established Russian connections in the recent surge of these disinformation operations", particularly in campaigns targeting Ghana and Nigeria. "Destabilising the Nigerian government would have significant regional effects," he warned. Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji, who specialises in Russian influence operations, agreed, adding that "media in Burkina and Togo have accepted money from agents linked to Russia to relay these campaigns". Meanwhile, Burkina's junta has expelled international press that had been working in the country, while local outlets self-censor in fear of arrest and deployment to the front lines against jihadists -- already a fate for some journalists. While the Burkinabe diaspora has attempted to fight back against the pro-junta narrative, including promoting jihadists' attack claims, commenting on or sharing posts is considered glorifying terrorism, punishable by one to five years imprisonment.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Fake AI videos of R. Kelly, pope spread cult of Burkina junta chief
Nude photo leak meant to be 'distraction' from political goals, McGregor says Fake AI videos of R. Kelly, pope spread cult of Burkina junta chief Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP Article content Abidjan (AFP) — If you believe the viral videos online, R. Kelly and Pope Leo XIV agree on one thing — that Burkina Faso's junta chief, Captain Ibrahim Traore, is a fantastic leader. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content The images are AI-generated propaganda, part of what experts have called a vast disinformation campaign spreading the 'personality cult' of the west African country's strongman. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Fake AI videos of R. Kelly, pope spread cult of Burkina junta chief Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content Beyonce and Justin Bieber are among the other celebrities to have their faces and voices altered through artificial intelligence to shower praise on Traore. In one video, attributed to disgraced R&B star R. Kelly, the lyrics praise Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup: 'for the love of his people, he risked it all… bullets fly but he don't fall… he's fighting for peace in his motherland.' Kelly is serving a 30-year-prison sentence in the United States for crimes including the sex trafficking of minors, yet the song generated by artificial intelligence has been viewed more than two million times since it came out in May. Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File The images have been widely shared on west African social media. It follows a wave of coups not only in Burkina Faso but also in Mali, Niger and Guinea, while the region is further destabilized by jihadist attacks. 'These are influence and disinformation campaigns aimed at extending the personality cult surrounding Captain Traore to Burkina Faso's English-speaking neighbours,' said an American researcher who spoke on condition of anonymity. Restoring control After seizing power in a coup in September 2022, Traore pledged to quickly restore control in Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by violence from jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Three years later, jihadist attacks have continued, causing thousands more deaths, and have even intensified in recent months. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Tiziana FABI / POOL/AFP Several officers accused of attempting to stage a coup have been arrested and comments attributed to then head of US Africa Command General Michael Langley, accusing Traore of using the country's gold reserves for personal protection, sparked anger and protests. Around that time, a series of videos exalting Traore started mushrooming on social media. 'Information manipulation has become a lever for retaining power and legitimizing the junta's presence,' said a Burkinabe specialist in strategic communication, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. 'Digital army' Viral campaigns mixing propaganda and AI-generated content have been shared by activists and English-speaking influencers, notably to denounce Langley and glorify Traore. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Photo by Lisa O'CONNOR / AFP While some are riding the wave for their own financial gain, others are working for the junta's cyber propaganda entity called Rapid Communication Intervention Battalions (BIR-C), the Burkinabe source said. 'They truly operate like a digital army,' the source said, adding it was led by US-based activist Ibrahima Maiga, ruling out any 'direct links with foreign Russian influence.' But the group's anti-imperialist narrative, 'presenting Captain Traore as the one who will save Burkina and Africa from Western neocolonialism… suits Russia, which amplifies it in turn,' the source said. – Russian connections – But the American researcher noted 'some reports have established Russian connections in the recent surge of these disinformation operations', particularly in campaigns targeting Ghana and Nigeria. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content 'Destabilizing the Nigerian government would have significant regional effects,' he warned. Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji, who specializes in Russian influence operations, agreed, adding that 'media in Burkina and Togo have accepted money from agents linked to Russia to relay these campaigns'. Meanwhile, Burkina's junta has expelled international press that had been working in the country, while local outlets self-censor in fear of arrest and deployment to the front lines against jihadists — already a fate for some journalists. While the Burkinabe diaspora has attempted to fight back against the pro-junta narrative, including promoting jihadists' attack claims, commenting on or sharing posts is considered glorifying terrorism, punishable by one to five years imprisonment. Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
France 24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Fake AI videos of R. Kelly, pope spread cult of Burkina junta chief
The images are AI-generated propaganda, part of what experts have called a vast disinformation campaign spreading the "personality cult" of the west African country's strongman. Beyonce and Justin Bieber are among the other celebrities to have their faces and voices altered through artificial intelligence to shower praise on Traore. In one video, attributed to disgraced R&B star R. Kelly, the lyrics praise Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup: "for the love of his people, he risked it all... bullets fly but he don't fall... he's fighting for peace in his motherland." Kelly is serving a 30-year-prison sentence in the United States for crimes including the sex trafficking of minors, yet the song generated by artificial intelligence has been viewed more than two million times since it came out in May. The images have been widely shared on west African social media. It follows a wave of coups not only in Burkina Faso but also in Mali, Niger and Guinea, while the region is further destabilised by jihadist attacks. "These are influence and disinformation campaigns aimed at extending the personality cult surrounding Captain Traore to Burkina Faso's English-speaking neighbours," said an American researcher who spoke on condition of anonymity. Restoring control After seizing power in a coup in September 2022, Traore pledged to quickly restore control in Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by violence from jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Three years later, jihadist attacks have continued, causing thousands more deaths, and have even intensified in recent months. Several officers accused of attempting to stage a coup have been arrested and comments attributed to then head of US Africa Command General Michael Langley, accusing Traore of using the country's gold reserves for personal protection, sparked anger and protests. Around that time, a series of videos exalting Traore started mushrooming on social media. "Information manipulation has become a lever for retaining power and legitimising the junta's presence," said a Burkinabe specialist in strategic communication, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. 'Digital army' Viral campaigns mixing propaganda and AI-generated content have been shared by activists and English-speaking influencers, notably to denounce Langley and glorify Traore. While some are riding the wave for their own financial gain, others are working for the junta's cyber propaganda entity called Rapid Communication Intervention Battalions (BIR-C), the Burkinabe source said. "They truly operate like a digital army," the source said, adding it was led by US-based activist Ibrahima Maiga, ruling out any "direct links with foreign Russian influence." But the group's anti-imperialist narrative, "presenting Captain Traore as the one who will save Burkina and Africa from Western neocolonialism... suits Russia, which amplifies it in turn," the source said. Russian connections But the American researcher noted "some reports have established Russian connections in the recent surge of these disinformation operations", particularly in campaigns targeting Ghana and Nigeria. "Destabilising the Nigerian government would have significant regional effects," he warned. Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji, who specialises in Russian influence operations, agreed, adding that "media in Burkina and Togo have accepted money from agents linked to Russia to relay these campaigns". Meanwhile, Burkina's junta has expelled international press that had been working in the country, while local outlets self-censor in fear of arrest and deployment to the front lines against jihadists -- already a fate for some journalists.
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Fake AI Videos Of R. Kelly, Pope Spread Cult Of Burkina Junta Chief
If you believe the viral videos online, R. Kelly and Pope Leo XIV agree on one thing -- that Burkina Faso's junta chief, Captain Ibrahim Traore, is a fantastic leader. The images are AI-generated propaganda, part of what experts have called a vast disinformation campaign spreading the "personality cult" of the west African country's strongman. Beyonce and Justin Bieber are among the other celebrities to have their faces and voices altered through artificial intelligence to shower praise on Traore. In one video, attributed to disgraced R&B star R. Kelly, the lyrics praise Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup: "for the love of his people, he risked it all... bullets fly but he don't fall... he's fighting for peace in his motherland." Kelly is serving a 30-year-prison sentence in the United States for crimes including the sex trafficking of minors, yet the song generated by artificial intelligence has been viewed more than two million times since it came out in May. The images have been widely shared on west African social media. It follows a wave of coups not only in Burkina Faso but also in Mali, Niger and Guinea, while the region is further destabilised by jihadist attacks. "These are influence and disinformation campaigns aimed at extending the personality cult surrounding Captain Traore to Burkina Faso's English-speaking neighbours," said an American researcher who spoke on condition of anonymity. After seizing power in a coup in September 2022, Traore pledged to quickly restore control in Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by violence from jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Three years later, jihadist attacks have continued, causing thousands more deaths, and have even intensified in recent months. Several officers accused of attempting to stage a coup have been arrested and comments attributed to then head of US Africa Command General Michael Langley, accusing Traore of using the country's gold reserves for personal protection, sparked anger and protests. Around that time, a series of videos exalting Traore started mushrooming on social media. "Information manipulation has become a lever for retaining power and legitimising the junta's presence," said a Burkinabe specialist in strategic communication, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. Viral campaigns mixing propaganda and AI-generated content have been shared by activists and English-speaking influencers, notably to denounce Langley and glorify Traore. While some are riding the wave for their own financial gain, others are working for the junta's cyber propaganda entity called Rapid Communication Intervention Battalions (BIR-C), the Burkinabe source said. "They truly operate like a digital army," the source said, adding it was led by US-based activist Ibrahima Maiga, ruling out any "direct links with foreign Russian influence." But the group's anti-imperialist narrative, "presenting Captain Traore as the one who will save Burkina and Africa from Western neocolonialism... suits Russia, which amplifies it in turn," the source said. But the American researcher noted "some reports have established Russian connections in the recent surge of these disinformation operations", particularly in campaigns targeting Ghana and Nigeria. "Destabilising the Nigerian government would have significant regional effects," he warned. Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji, who specialises in Russian influence operations, agreed, adding that "media in Burkina and Togo have accepted money from agents linked to Russia to relay these campaigns". Meanwhile, Burkina's junta has expelled international press that had been working in the country, while local outlets self-censor in fear of arrest and deployment to the front lines against jihadists -- already a fate for some journalists. While the Burkinabe diaspora has attempted to fight back against the pro-junta narrative, including promoting jihadists' attack claims, commenting on or sharing posts is considered glorifying terrorism, punishable by one to five years imprisonment. Analysts say the campaign glorifying Burkina Faso's junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore (R) helps Russia's interests AFP Pope Leo XIV is another celebrity used in the AI disinformation campaign AFP Beyonce, seen here with her rapper husband Jay-Z, also had her likeness used AFP Captain Ibrahim Traore took power in a 2022 coup AFP
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets' Ben Saraf reacts to first NBA action in Las Vegas Summer League
LAS VEGAS -- Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Saraf is one of five rookies that the Nets will be trying to incorporate into the team with the hopes of a encouraging 2025-26 season. Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks made sure to lean into trying to the next point guard of the future and Saraf is one of the guys that will be trying to prove himself this summer. "I think the feedback was, for me and the other point guards, more to control the game, the pace, and the spacing," Saraf said Saturday after practice as the team prepares for its next game in the Las Vegas Summer League on Sunday against the Washington Wizards. In Thursday's debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Saraf played 17 minutes and had three points and two assists. "We do want to play fast, Jordi's system wants to play fast, but we need to play under control," Saraf continued while discussing how head coach Jordi Fernandez wants to play at a high tempo. "I think the last practice, we're doing it better, yesterday and today. So, I think we will be better in the next game." Saraf was one of the rookies that underwhelmed in Thursday's loss to the Thunder, but he also showed some signs of how he can contribute when next season begins. There were a number of drives that Saraf made during his time on the floor in which he displayed the ability to get a step on his defender along with the willingness to get creative with his shot attempts at the rim. Saraf, the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, will be trying to balance his ability to pass the ball with his ability to score the ball in a variety of ways on a roster with plenty of ball-handling. Traore is regarded as the player in the Nets' draft class with the most well-rounded game in terms of his playmaking and his penchant for scoring the ball from his days playing professionally in Germany. "Me, Egor (Demin), and Nolan (Traore) are pretty smart, so we know how to share the ball together. I think we've all have played with another point guard on the court, so we all know how to do it, and I really love to share the court with them. I really like talented, impressive players, so I'm having fun. We do it pretty well," Saraf said when discussing his playing with fellow draftees Demin and Traore.
