The image that went viral on networks showing the Minister of Defense, Carlos Presti, posing next to a green Falcon is not real: it was created with artificial intelligence. This was determined by an analysis by Chequeado, which verified that the photo included a watermark corresponding to Google tools and that, when subjected to different detectors, it showed a very high probability of having been artificially generated. Gemini identified its synthetic seal, Hive Moderation estimated it to be 99.9% certain that it was not authentic, and AI or Not classified it as 90% AI-created.
Added to this technical evidence is a compelling detail: the patent visible in the image, “FUF 386”, is registered in the City of Buenos Aires, but belongs to a Renault Kangoo, not a Ford Falcon. In the infringement systems of CABA and the Province, a Kangoo “Sportway” does appear associated with that domain. The viral image, therefore, shows a car that does not match the assigned patent, a typical error in compositions created by AI. There are also no official records of that photo in Presti’s own account or in Ministry of Defense publications.
Misinformation grew unchecked: the publication that fueled the rumor exceeded 250,000 views and accumulated thousands of reactions, despite the fact that there was no official denial. The impact was amplified by the symbolic meaning of the green Falcon, an icon associated with state terrorism, which contributed to the false image generating immediate political interpretations. Verification shows that it was manipulated content and that no record supports the existence of that photograph.
