The counter reads: 277,014
Disinformation during and after the Red Line protest: old photo, new frame
Sharp-eyed observers noted that a photo shared on X during the 5 October 2025 demonstration, captioned as “taken on the Dam,” actually comes from a protest in Germany (2024). The sign in the image glorifies the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. The context is misleading. The image works anyway.
What we see:
- Source account & pattern: the Dutch poster, a supporter of a radical-right party, repeatedly posts about White Lives Matter, demographic replacement and Islamisation alongside this disinformation.
- Spread despite debunking: our own research shows the post has now reached 277,014 views on X alone, even after the deception was exposed. The poster continues to spread it. An earlier account was blocked; since 6 December 2024 a new account has been active with the same themes and tens of thousands of posts.
- AI: when asked, X’s AI (Grok) suggests the image looks “real.” AI can legitimise disinformation. Do not turn to it for important matters such as voting advice.
Why this matters
An image from a different place and time, combined with a loaded caption (manipulative triggers), makes for a powerful framing tool. Around a sensitive date of commemoration, this acts as a catalyst for polarisation.
What helps (checks):
- Trace the origin (reverse image search / date & location).
- Check the poster (history, recurring themes, previous bans).
- Report & correct (link to the debunk, provide context).
- Stay alert when consulting AI.
