Misleading ‘mass 2026 protest in Thailand’ clip uses last year’s India footage, AI images and old rally scenes
Thai PBS Verify found this disinformation on Facebook
Thai PBS Verify traced the misleading content to a Facebook post published on Nov 3, 2026. The post featured messages such as, “Power of the people. Citizens are joining the movement in large numbers to call for peace,” and, “The protest has gained momentum. A huge number of demonstrators want genuine democracy. We stand together.” The clip was viewed about 67,000 times.
Verifying the video clip
Thai PBS Verify examined the first scene in the video, showing a large crowd marching along a road. A reverse-image search using Google Lens found the footage matched images published by Reuters in a report titled Five killed in fresh ethnic violence in India’s Manipur state, relating to events in Manipur on Oct 31, 2026.
Reuters photo
Further searches led investigators to a video published by AJNews24 on Nov 1, 2026, containing visual details identical to those used in the misleading post.
AJNews24 photo
According to information translated from the AJNews24 report, thousands of people from the Meitei, Naga and other indigenous communities gathered in Imphal, Senapati and Chandel districts in Manipur to demand accountability from authorities over continuing unrest in the state.
The demonstrations were organised by civil society groups calling for the cancellation of the Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki armed groups, the withdrawal of Assam Rifles forces from conflict areas, implementation of the National Register of Citizens using 1951 as the base year, and the safe resettlement of internally displaced families.
Organisers also accused authorities of failing to protect indigenous communities and restore lasting peace. During a public gathering in Imphal, participants called for the removal of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and warned that the state government should resign if their demands were ignored.
The findings indicate that the footage was not filmed in Thailand but during demonstrations in India’s Manipur state related to ethnic tensions and governance issues.
Comparing photos from Reuters
Thai flag protest image shows signs of AI manipulation
Another image in the clip depicts a large crowd waving Thai flags under the caption: “The protest has gained momentum. A huge number of demonstrators want genuine democracy. We stand together.”
A Google Lens search found a similar video posted on Facebook on Oct 31, 2026 with hashtags referring to democracy protests.
Investigators noted several irregularities in the image, including unnatural movements by people and flags, along with distorted and unreadable text. These characteristics raised concerns that the image may have been generated or altered using AI.
The clip was also analysed using AI-detection tools. Hive Moderation and Google SynthID found a relatively low likelihood that the image was AI-generated. However, DeepAI assessed the content as having a 97% probability of being AI-generated.
Thai PBS Verify stressed that AI-detection results differed considerably between platforms and therefore could not, by themselves, conclusively determine whether the image had been created using AI.
Further examination using Google Lens found similarities with a NationWeekend photograph published on June 19, 2025, showing a protest by the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy (PCTM) and the Dhamma Army outside Government House calling for then-prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to resign.
AI detecting results
Several visual elements appeared to match, suggesting an authentic news image may have been used as a template before being modified or recreated through AI. However, the exact production process could not be confirmed.
Distorted text visible in the image
Comparing the misleading photo to the NationWeekend’s one
Victory Monument rally images are from 2025
Checking the photo on Google Lens
Google Lens located versions of the same images previously published on YouTube and described as gatherings at the landmark.
Comparisons with the actual location confirmed matching surroundings, including the presence of Victory Hub and other identifiable structures nearby.
Post claiming a protest in Thailand (left) compared with a map of the Victory Monument area, showing the same Victory Hub building (right).
When compared with aerial footage published by Thai PBS, the scene matched a rally held on June 28, 2025 by the “Ruam Palang Paendin Pokpong Athipatai Thai” (United Power of the Land to Defend Thai Sovereignty) group at Victory Monument.
Comparing corresponding location details
The findings show the images were authentic photographs of a real event in 2025, not a current protest.
Maps
Night-time protest image also linked to earlier rally
Another image in the video showed a night-time gathering with the message: “It has begun… Oust the Cambodian-hearted Thai prime minister. The crowd is overflowing. History is being made again.”
Visual analysis indicated the scene was also taken near Victory Monument and appeared connected to demonstrations against former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during tensions involving Thailand and Cambodia.
Comparison with Google Maps showed multiple matching landmarks and environmental features.
A further search found a June 28, 2025 report by The Reporters documenting a demonstration organised by the United Power of the Land to Defend Thai Sovereignty group, which demanded Ms Paetongtarn’s resignation.
Comparing the image with The Reporters’ report
Comparison between the protest image and the real location
Map view
The image was therefore determined to be genuine, but related to an event that occurred in 2025 rather than a current political gathering.
What are the facts?
Thai PBS Verify found that the Facebook video posted on Nov 3, 2026, falsely implied that large crowds were currently protesting in Thailand and demanding democracy while calling for the government to step down.
In reality, the clip combines footage from different events and periods. The opening scene shows demonstrations in India’s Manipur state on Oct 31, 2026. Images of protesters waving Thai flags contain indications that they may have been generated or altered using AI. The scenes at Victory Monument, both during the day and at night, are authentic photographs from demonstrations held on June 28, 2025.
Taken together, the video presents images from different locations and time periods in a way that could mislead viewers into believing a major political protest is currently unfolding in Thailand.
Verification Process
1. Verify the first image in the clip using Google Lens
A reverse-image search of the footage showing a large crowd marching on a road found a match with a Reuters report on ethnic violence in India’s Manipur state published on Oct 31, 2026.
2. Verify the source of the India protest footage
Further keyword searches found a video published by AJNews24 on Nov 1, 2026, containing visuals that matched footage later misrepresented as a protest in Thailand.
3. Verify the image of protesters holding Thai flags
Using Google Lens, investigators found that a Facebook account had published a similar image on Oct 31, 2026 alongside messages about pro-democracy demonstrations. A closer examination revealed irregularities in the movement of people, the Thai flags and unreadable text elements, suggesting the image may have been generated or altered using AI.
4. Analyse the image using AI detection tools
The clip was examined using Hive Moderation and Google’s SynthID, neither of which found clear evidence that the image was AI-generated. However, DeepAI assessed the image as having a 97% likelihood of being AI-generated. Because the results differed significantly, they could not be used alone to conclusively determine whether the image was created using AI.
5. Compare the image with photos from previous protests
Additional Google Lens searches located a NationWeekend news photograph published on June 19, 2025, showing a protest by the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy (PCTM) and the Dhamma Army outside Government House. Several elements matched the image of protesters holding Thai flags, raising the possibility that a real news photograph had been used as a template for AI generation or manipulation.
6. Verify images of rallies at Victory Monument
Google Lens searches found that the images had previously been published on YouTube and identified as events taking place at Victory Monument. Comparing the images with Google Maps showed that surrounding buildings and environmental features matched the location.
7. Establish the timing of the event through details within the image
Investigators examined advertising billboards visible in the images and compared them with aerial footage published by Thai PBS. The comparison confirmed the images showed the same location and corresponded to an event held on June 28, 2025 by the “United Power of the Land to Defend Thai Sovereignty” group.
8. Verify the night-time protest image
A comparison between the image and the Victory Monument area on Google Maps revealed matching location features. Additional keyword searches found a report published by The Reporters on June 28, 2025, identifying the gathering as a rally organised by the “United Power of the Land to Defend Thai Sovereignty” group calling for the resignation of then-prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Impact of the misinformation
- The video may falsely convince viewers that a large-scale political mobilisation is underway in Thailand when some of the footage originated abroad and some was taken from older events.
- By republishing protest photos from 2025 without identifying when they were recorded, the content may also create a misleading impression that campaigns against the government are taking place now.
- The combination of genuine foreign footage, old images and material showing possible signs of AI manipulation can make it more difficult for audiences to distinguish between authentic reporting and misleading content, increasing the risk that false narratives will spread widely.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Viewers should verify the source of images and videos before sharing them, particularly when posts use emotionally charged language or claim to show major political events.
- Reverse-image search tools such as Google Lens can help determine whether footage has appeared online previously and identify when it was first published.
- Examining details such as advertisements, buildings, road signs, flags and landmarks can also help establish where and when an image was taken.
- People should remain cautious about material showing signs of AI generation, including distorted text, unrealistic facial features, unnatural body movements or other visual anomalies. Experts recommend using multiple AI-detection tools rather than relying on a single service.
- Most importantly, information should be cross-checked against reports from credible news organisations before being shared, especially when there is no independent evidence confirming that an event is current.
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