{"id":82152,"date":"2026-09-04T15:26:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=82152"},"modified":"2026-09-04T15:26:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:26:53","slug":"tiktok-removes-ai-images-of-sporeans-missing-in-nepal-flood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=82152","title":{"rendered":"TikTok removes AI images of S’poreans missing in Nepal flood"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 A widely seen post on TikTok with AI images of Singaporeans missing in the Nepal floods has been removed after it violated the platform\u2019s guidelines.<\/p>\n

The post uploaded on Aug 31 contained AI-generated photos<\/span><\/a> of four of the nine missing Singaporeans, alongside real photos of three of the other missing Singaporeans.<\/p>\n

The Straits Times ran a story on the post on Sept 1, and TikTok removed it the next day.<\/p>\n

The post had violated guidelines on edited media and generated AI content, spreading misinformation and deceiving users into thinking those were real images of the missing Singaporeans.<\/p>\n

The post had more than 150,000 views and close to 300 comments before it was taken down.<\/p>\n

The missing Singaporeans have been uncontactable since Aug 26, when flash floods swept through parts of Tibet and Nepal.<\/p>\n

The death toll as at Sept 3 exceeded 1,200, and more than 5,000 people are still missing.<\/p>\n

The missing Singaporeans\u00a0have been identified<\/span><\/a>\u00a0as Rengarajan Prabu, Shalinny Deavy Elan Sozan, Subramaniam Diraviam, Rajesvaran Ayyavoo, Estee Loeh, Ghosh Aditi, Ng Kit Kuen, Shubakshi Rawla and Sumit Rawla.<\/p>\n

The TikTok post included real photos of Loeh and the Rawlas, and AI images of Rengarajan, Shalinny, Subramaniam and Rajesvaran.<\/p>\n

Rengarajan, Shalinny, Subramaniam and Rajesvaran were travelling with an agency, Leaf Holidays Treks and Expedition.<\/p>\n

On Aug 28, the travel agency posted photos of the four Singaporeans on Facebook.<\/p>\n

It is believed that the AI images of them on TikTok were derived from the travel agency\u2019s photos.<\/p>\n

In the fake images, Shalinny, who works at the State Courts, was portrayed with a black \u201cpottu\u201d (a traditional coloured dot or mark worn on the forehead).<\/p>\n

Her husband, who wanted to be known only as Selvaganesh, had told ST he was upset when he saw the post, as the AI image did not look like his wife, who would wear a red pottu, never black.<\/p>\n

On Sept 4, Selvaganesh said he was relieved and thankful the post had been removed.<\/p>\n

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\"AI-generated<\/picture><\/div>
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AI-generated images (top row) of four Singaporeans missing in Nepal have been shared online. A travel agency uploaded photos (bottom row) of the four to Facebook on Aug 28. The photos were taken from scans of their travel documents.<\/p>\n

PHOTOS: SOCIAL MEDIA, LEAF HOLIDAYS TREKS AND EXPEDITION<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TikTok said it launches additional detection efforts with a dedicated task force in events such as natural disasters and public safety emergencies.<\/p>\n

This led to it removing similar posts on the Nepal floods, alongside the one removed on Sept 2.<\/p>\n

AI images on social media platforms are a growing problem<\/span><\/a>, with more fake, AI-generated content entering Singapore\u2019s online space.<\/p>\n

Artificial intelligence has been used to impersonate senior political office holders<\/span><\/a> here to scam victims, with the police warning the public to be wary of such ruses.<\/p>\n

Detecting fake images<\/h2>\n

To fight the scourge of fake videos and images in Singapore\u2019s online space, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) has been developing tools such as AlchemiX to detect them.<\/p>\n

HTX engineers ran the AI images of the missing Singaporeans through AlchemiX, which detected traces of AI generation and face morphing.<\/p>\n

Alvin Wong, from HTX\u2019s Sensors and Sensemaking Centre of Expertise, said it may take just a few seconds to generate AI images, but these can spread very quickly and cause widespread harm in major events.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cA polished AI-generated image may require several iterative prompts to perfect.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut even one with obvious defects can spread rapidly during breaking news events, particularly when viewers are consuming content on small mobile screens where such flaws are harder to detect.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that AI cannot accurately recover detail that is missing.<\/p>\n

That means when one takes a blurry image and asks an AI to make it clearer and larger, the added details are not real.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cThe AI restoration is done on a purely predictive basis. Furthermore, the result of the restoration process can vary depending on the instructions given.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wong said with AI technology advancing rapidly, it is not possible for AI images to always be detected by tools.<\/p>\n

But the public should take steps to check the authenticity of a photo or video before deciding whether to share or report it.<\/p>\n

He said things to check are:<\/p>\n

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