A video showing thousands of people flooding the streets of Japan in a pro-Palestine rally sparked huge attention online. The short clip circulated widely on multiple platforms, with claims that Japan had witnessed one of the largest demonstrations supporting Palestine. However, recent investigations confirmed that the video was not authentic footage but AI-generated content.

Digital researchers and fact-checkers quickly pointed out irregularities, from distorted faces in the crowd to unreadable protest banners. These are common signs of synthetic content created with artificial intelligence.

A report by Reuters Fact Check stated that the viral footage was most likely generated using AI video tools. This conclusion was backed by forensic detection tests via SynthID and Hive, both of which flagged the clip as AI content with more than 98% probability.

Further analysis revealed a small watermark, “Veo,” on the video. Veo is an advanced AI model capable of generating short, realistic videos based on text prompts. This watermark confirmed the clip was not an authentic recording of any rally in Japan.

Although the viral video was fake, Japan did witness real pro-Palestine demonstrations throughout 2024 and 2025. These rallies were genuine but on a smaller scale compared to the exaggerated AI depiction.

• On May 11, 2024, hundreds gathered in Shibuya, Tokyo, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

• On February 4, 2025, demonstrators staged a peaceful protest in front of Hiroshima’s iconic temple.

• On July 15, 2025, another rally took place in Namba, Osaka, with banners and Palestinian flags.

These events were authentic, yet none matched the massive crowd size fabricated in the viral AI video.

This case highlights the rising danger of AI-powered disinformation. Highly realistic synthetic media, also called deepfakes, can easily deceive viewers, trigger emotional responses, and influence political opinions.

In the context of the Gaza-Israel conflict, such manipulated content has the power to fuel tensions and spread false narratives. Experts warn that fact-checking, media literacy, and reliable detection tools must be prioritized to prevent the public from being misled.

The fake pro-Palestine video in Japan serves as a stark reminder that AI technology is a double-edged sword. While it drives innovation in creative industries, its misuse can distort reality and erode trust in information.

Social media platforms are also under pressure to step up moderation efforts, labeling and removing manipulated videos before they go viral. Without stronger safeguards, the spread of AI-generated disinformation will only accelerate.

The viral pro-Palestine rally video in Japan was proven to be AI-generated, not real footage. Although actual rallies did occur across Japan, they were much smaller in scale. This incident underscores the urgent need for greater public awareness and vigilance in distinguishing authentic news from AI-manipulated content.

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