Hyderabad: Man booked for circulating AI-generated leopard photo in Fathullaguda

Nagole police took action against a painting contractor for allegedly circulating an AI-generated photograph falsely claiming a leopard had been spotted near Bhashyam School in Fathullaguda. Forest officials inspected the area but found no evidence of leopard movement.

Hyderabad: The Nagole police booked a case against a man for allegedly circulating an AI-generated photograph falsely claiming that a leopard was roaming near Fathullaguda, triggering panic among local residents.

According to police, Sachin, a native of Hubballi in Karnataka working as a painting contractor in Fathullaguda near Nagole had on Saturday midnight, allegedly sent his landlord a fake photograph created using ChatGPT, claiming that a leopard had been spotted near Bhashyam School in Fathullaguda.

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The image subsequently circulated on social media, causing fear among residents.

Forest officials at the Uppal Forest Range office received information about the incident on Monday and, with the assistance of Nagole police, inspected the area. However, they found no evidence of leopard movement.

Police identified the image as artificially generated and took action against Sachin.

As the false information caused unnecessary concern among both forest and police officials, he was issued a notice, warned against such acts and sent away.