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Authentic Material or AI? What the Analysis by Fact Checkers Cyprus Shows

Published January 9, 2026, 08:14
Authentic Material or AI? What the Analysis by Fact Checkers Cyprus Shows

Fact Check Cyprus examined a video that leaked on January 8, 2026, via the 'Emily Thompson' account on the X platform, which caused widespread reproduction and intense public dialogue in Cyprus and Greece, mainly due to the content of the recorded conversations with political and economic figures. The video features, among others, the Director of the Office of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Charalambos Charalambous, former Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis, and Cyfield Group CEO Giorgos Chrysoschos. Simultaneously, part of the public discussion that followed focused on claims and questions raised by the media regarding the funding of President Nikos Christodoulides' election campaign in 2023. Technical analysis with AI and deepfake detection tools did not reveal clear or reliable evidence that the material was produced or altered with artificial intelligence, especially in the areas where faces and speech appear. Furthermore, reverse image search of the video did not yield results, making it currently impossible to verify the original source or previous publications of the same material. The identity of the 'Emily Thompson' account that leaked the video remains unclear, and the possibility of editing or presenting conversations out of context cannot be ruled out.