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Google Earth AI deepfake tool pulled after one day

4 items1 sourcesupdated 5d agotrend 0

Google pulled an AI image-generation feature from Google Earth after just one day following backlash over its potential to create convincing deepfakes of real satellite imagery. The tool, which used text prompts to edit satellite images, enabled users to fabricate scenes like refugee camps and bomb craters, raising concerns about erosion of trust in satellite imagery used to verify conflicts and humanitarian incidents.

  • Feature launched Thursday, disabled within 24 hours due to misinformation risks
  • Tool used Nano Banana 2 model to generate AI-altered satellite imagery via text prompts
  • Digital Digging researcher Henk van Ess demonstrated fake images: refugees at Mexican border, bomb crater near Gaza hospital
  • Google initially defended tool with SynthID digital watermark and Gemini verification options
  • Security experts warned generative tools risk undermining satellite imagery credibility for conflict verification