Iranian fishermen reportedly went crazy fishing for iPhones after the cargo ship sank? Multiple videos of "The sea is full of mobile phones" were determined to be generated by AI

The Singapore-flagged container ship "GFS Pride" sank after being hit by an unidentified projectile near the Strait of Hormuz. Images of Iranian people salvaging iPhones subsequently circulated on the Internet. However, some of the images and videos have been determined to be generated by AI by the Iranian fact-checking website. (Photo taken from X platform accounts @SprinterPress, @ishaqsamaila5)

After the Singaporean container ship "GFS Pride" sank near the Strait of Hormuz, a large number of photos and videos of "Iranian fishermen scooping up piles of iPhones" circulated on social platforms, and there were even exaggerated scenes of mobile phones floating in the sea. However, an investigation by the Iranian fact-checking website "Factnameh" found that many of the widely circulated images were generated by artificial intelligence (AI), and there is currently no reliable evidence to prove that the sunken cargo contained iPhones.

Videos circulating on the Internet show a number of small boats operating near floating containers. People are seen loading cartons of suspected goods onto the boats. Another video claims the boats are filled with iPhones. The Iranian fact-checking website "Factnameh" pointed out that some of the widely circulated videos and photos of floating mobile phones were generated by AI; there is currently no reliable evidence to confirm that the sunken freighter was carrying iPhones.

The review report pointed out that there were obvious irrationalities in some of the images, including the abnormal way the mobile phone moved on the water, the people on the boat who were almost stationary when the ship was rocking, and the shape, lens configuration and text of the mobile phone packaging box. Based on this, the reviewers determined that the widely circulated video of mobile phones floating and a photo of a pile of mobile phones were both generated by AI.

Real shipwreck mixed with fake images

The maritime accident itself did occur. Reuters reported that the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride was hit by an unidentified projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on October 13. The hull was damaged and caught fire before sinking. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed that all 21 crew members on board were evacuated and no one was injured.

After the shipwreck, floating containers and other items did appear on the sea surface. Satellite images released by Reuters also show containers and floating objects on the sea, but the specific types of cargo cannot be identified. "Factnameh" pointed out that existing credible reports have not released the complete cargo list of the GFS Pride's voyage, so it is impossible to confirm whether there is an iPhone on board.

Not all content circulating on the Internet can be directly determined to be generated by AI. "Factnameh" pointed out that there are other photos that appear to show a boat carrying perfume, but no confirmed iPhone appears in the picture. As for other videos claiming to be of local people going out to sea to salvage cargo, "The National" also stated that the filming location and time of some of the videos and whether they are related to the sinking of the GFS Pride are still unable to be independently confirmed.