FACT-CHECK: AI-generated image of OFWs lining up for free calls surfaces online

CLAIM: OFWs from the Middle East photographed lining up for OFW Libreng Tawag station.

RATING: FALSE

An AI-generated image of OFWs supposedly lining up for the “OFW Libreng Tawag” program in Dubai surfaced online on March 13.

Flagged Content: On March 13, Facebook user Ramil Delgado Ramos posted an AI-generated photo falsely showing long lines of Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) waiting to avail themselves of free calls to contact their loved ones in the Philippines. 

• The post includes a caption that states, “Lahat ba ng OFW sa Middle East naka avail na ng free calls. sayang naman.Ito lang ang maitutulong ni PBBM sa mga OFW😅😂 #OFW #middleeast #freecalls #Marcos #Duterte”. (“Have all OFWs in the Middle East availed of free calls? What a waste. This is all PBBM can offer to the OFWs.”)
• The photo was superimposed with an image of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. taken on March 6 by Ivan Mayrina of GMA Integrated News, where the chief executive was on a phone call with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• The text on the bottom of the photo reads, “Iba talaga kapag may free calls.” (“It’s really different when there are free calls.”)

Our debunk: PressOne.PH ran the image through multiple AI detection tools, which confirmed traces of AI manipulation.

• UndetectableAI and ZeroGPT found the image to be 99% likely to have been created by AI.
• Another tool, FakeImageDetector.com classifies the image as “computer-generated or modified.”
• The image appears to have no digital footprint prior to its recent circulation. Reverse image searches failed to locate any verifiable source, reinforcing the conclusion that the visual was synthetically created.

Rewind: On March 9, President Marcos Jr. launched the Libreng Tawag Program to help OFWs connect with their loved ones in the Philippines amid tensions in the Middle East. 

• Marcos ordered telecommunication companies to offer free services and set up free call stations at major business centers in the Middle East. 

Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the post has attracted significant online engagement, with 8,900 reactions, 1,100 comments, and 87 shares, and users have criticized the program as ineffective and inconvenient. 

• Users commenting on the post condemned the program, noting the long lines in the photos.

Spot the fake: Generative AI tools can create highly realistic content that can mislead the public and blur the line between what is fact and what is opinion. It is critical to be vigilant online during periods of heightened tension involving OFWs, as such content can easily distort reality and fuel strong emotions. 

• Always cross-verify images and reports with credible news outlets and trusted sources.
• Use free, accessible AI detection tools to verify the credibility of photos and videos online and stay well-informed.
• Google and other search engines offer reverse image search features that users can use to trace a photo’s origin. Arianne Tadina

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