Was macht diese Bildmanipulation mit dir?

Bildmanipulation beeinflusst unsere Empathie durch vier Hauptmechanismen: Selektive Empathie (wir nehmen Geflüchtete je nach Herkunft unterschiedlich wahr), Framing-Effekt (Bilder aus Europa erscheinen tragischer als Szenen aus dem globalen Süden), Gefahr von Stereotypen (KI verstärkt diese Tendenzen), und Empathie-Steuerung (Fakes beeinflussen, wem wir Mitgefühl schenken).

Same message, different reaction?

Two children. Both watching people who are fleeing. Images about migration can trigger very different emotions. Who deserves our sympathy? And who decides that?

Junge in rotem Pullover sieht auf eine große Menschenmenge am Strand unter sonnigem blauen Himmel.

Mädchen mit Pferdeschwanz schaut auf eine Gruppe Leute neben einem roten Zug in einem Dorf.

The first image

A boy in Gaza watching people fleeing – photographed by Ahmed Waheidi for the ICRC’s AV archive.

The second imagE

AI-manipulated – instead of Gaza, now Switzerland; instead of a boy, a blonde girl watching Ukrainian refugees at the train station.

Selective empathy

Studies show that we perceive refugees differently depending on their origin.

Framing effect

Images from Europe appear “more tragic” or “more dignified” than scenes from the Global South.

Risk of stereotypes

AI can reinforce these tendencies and thus reproduce prejudices.

Shaping empathy

Fakes can influence who we give our compassion to – and who we don’t.

Zwei verschlungene Hände unterschiedlicher Hautfarben vor einem sanften Himmelshintergrund.

59% of the European population showed more solidarity with Ukrainian refugees than with Syrian refugees.

(Source: Eurobarometer, 2022)

Eine helle Hand hält sanft ein dunkleres Handgelenk vor einem hellen Hintergrund.

AI training data predominantly comes from Western image archives – leading to an overrepresentation of white, Western narratives.

(Source: arXiv, 2020)

Zwei Hände unterschiedlicher Hautfarbe halten sich vor einem verschwommenen Himmel im Hintergrund.

The media report on refugees from Europe significantly more often using positive terms such as “protection” or “solidarity.”

(Source: Euromesco Policy Brief, 2022)

Ask questions

Who do I see – and who do I not see?

Seek diversity

Compare news from various sources.Compare news from different sources.

Recognise AI bias

AI often shows Western-oriented scenes – question them consciously.

Examine the words

How does the text describe people? Victim? threat? Destiny?

“What if AI not only changes images, but also shapes or amplifies our empathy?”
Welcome to WHAT THE FAKE – discover more image pairs, facts, and tips.

Same message, different reaction?

What does this image manipulation do to you?

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