Poland’s Defense Ministry admitted on Tuesday that it used artificial intelligence tools to enhance an official photograph of Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka after the edited image sparked controversy online.
According to Polish broadcaster RMF FM, internet users noticed several irregularities in a photo published by Sobkowiak-Czarnecka following commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the Poznań June 1956 anti-communist protests. The most noticeable changes included a blurred slogan on a spectator’s T-shirt and unusual details on a nearby soldier’s uniform.
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Ministry says AI unintentionally altered the image
After questions spread on social media, the defense ministry acknowledged that AI had been used during post-processing.
“We provided Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka with a photograph from the ceremony. To improve its quality, we used tools based on artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, during this process, some elements of the photograph were unintentionally modified, resulting in a version that differed from the original,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the image had only been enhanced to improve its technical quality and denied any intention to manipulate its content. Officials also published the original photograph alongside the statement.
Sobkowiak-Czarnecka later reposted the ministry’s explanation, writing that the matter had been clarified and inviting the man whose T-shirt appeared in the image to visit the ministry.
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Critics question use of AI in official government images
The edited photo prompted criticism from opposition politicians and professional photographers.
Mateusz Kurzejewski, deputy spokesperson for the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, questioned why the image appeared to remove the “Narodowcy RP” inscription from a man’s T-shirt using AI.
Mikołaj Bujak, official photographer for Polish President Karol Nawrocki, also criticized the ministry’s explanation, arguing that AI should assist technical editing rather than alter reality.
“AI can support editing by speeding up technical work, but it should not change reality,” Bujak wrote on X.
AI use in government communications faces growing scrutiny
The incident comes as governments increasingly experiment with artificial intelligence in public communications, while facing growing scrutiny over transparency and authenticity.
Although AI-powered editing tools are commonly used to improve image quality, experts have warned that generative AI can unintentionally alter objects, text and people in photographs if images are not carefully reviewed before publication.
The controversy has fueled debate in Poland over whether government institutions should disclose when artificial intelligence is used to process official photographs and other public materials.
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