Man to be charged over AI-generated crocodile image at Pandan Reservoir

A 30-year-old man will be charged in court on Tuesday (Sept 29) after he allegedly created and communicated a fake image of a crocodile sighting at Pandan Reservoir, before attempting to conceal his actions.

In a news release on Monday (Sept 28), the police said the man will face charges for communicating a false message and obstructing the course of justice.

On Aug 20, the national water agency PUB was notified of a reported crocodile sighting at Pandan Reservoir.

Following the report, members of the public were advised to exercise caution in the area, while water activities at the reservoir were suspended.

PUB and the National Parks Board also deployed resources to conduct search and capture operations at Pandan Reservoir.

PUB later discovered that the photograph provided in connection with the reported crocodile sighting was fake and referred the matter to the police on Aug 21.

Preliminary investigations found that the man had created an AI-generated image depicting a crocodile at Pandan Reservoir and sent it to a colleague.

He subsequently deleted the image and the application used to create it in an attempt to conceal his actions, said the police.

The man will be charged with communicating a false message under Section 14D of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 and obstructing the course of justice under Section 204A of the Penal Code 1871.

If found guilty of communicating false message, he may face a jail term of up to three years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

If found guilty of obstructing the course of justice, he may face a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.

The police added that they would not hesitate to take action against those who communicate falsehoods.

"Apart from causing fear and inconvenience caused to members of the public, such falsehoods also result in public resources being unnecessarily deployed to deal with these incidents," they said.

The police also urged the public to act responsibly and refrain from circulating false information that could cause unnecessary public alarm.

xingying.koh@asiaone.com

一名 30 岁男子将于周二（9 月 29 日）在法庭上被控告，他被指控伪造并传播了一张在潘丹水库发现鳄鱼的虚假照片，之后试图掩盖自己的行为。

警方在周一（9月28日）发布的新闻稿中表示，该男子将面临传播虚假信息和妨碍司法公正的指控。

8月20日，国家水务局（PUB）接到报告称，有人在潘丹水库发现鳄鱼。

报告发布后，当局建议公众在该地区保持警惕，同时暂停了水库的水上活动。

公用事业局和国家公园局也部署了资源，在潘丹水库开展搜寻和抓捕行动。

公用事业局后来发现，与报道的鳄鱼目击事件有关的照片是伪造的，并于 8 月 21 日将此事移交警方。

初步调查发现，该男子利用人工智能生成了一张描绘潘丹水库鳄鱼的图像，并将其发送给了同事。

警方称，他随后删除了该图片以及用于创建该图片的应用程序，试图掩盖自己的行为。

该男子将被指控违反 1906 年《杂项罪行（公共秩序和滋扰）法》第 14D 条传播虚假信息，以及违反 1871 年《刑法典》第 204A 条妨碍司法公正。

如果被判犯有传播虚假信息罪，他可能面临最高三年监禁、最高 10,000 美元罚款，或两者并罚。

如果被判妨碍司法公正罪名成立，他可能面临最高七年的监禁、罚款或两者并罚。

警方补充说，对于散布虚假信息的人，他们将毫不犹豫地采取行动。

他们表示：“除了给公众造成恐慌和不便之外，此类虚假信息还会导致公共资源被不必要地部署到处理这些事件中。”

警方还敦促公众保持理性，不要散布可能引起公众不必要恐慌的虚假信息。

邢莹.koh@asiaone.com