The leaked video that sparked political turmoil in Cyprus shows no clear signs of being manipulated with artificial intelligence, according to findings published Thursday by Fact Check Cyprus, but big questions remain about who created it, how it was edited and what context it may be missing.
Fact Check Cyprus said that after reviewing the video that was widely circulated on social media this week, there were no obvious technological signatures to suggest the video was created using AI or deepfake technology. Still, the group stressed that it could not confirm how the video was made, whether any parts were edited, or who was behind its release.
The video includes recordings of conversations with several prominent political and business figures, including Charambos Charambos, head of the Office of the President of the Republic. former energy minister George Rakototripis; and George Chrysokos, CEO of Cyfield Group. Its sudden online appearance sparked sharp reactions across the political spectrum and fueled speculation about its authenticity.
The footage was posted to X by an account using the name “Emily Thompson,” which describes itself as belonging to an “independent analyst.” According to Fact Check Cyprus, the account has been active since 2022 and claims to be based in the UK. However, investigators said they could not confirm the true identity of the person behind the profile.
FactCheck Cyprus also reported that a reverse image and video search yielded no results, giving no clue as to whether the material had been posted elsewhere online before being leaked.
To assess whether the footage was artificially created or altered, the organization performed multiple checks using AI and deepfake detection tools, including Hive Moderation and the InVID-WeVerify platform. These tests did not find strong or convincing evidence that the video was generated or manipulated using AI, especially in areas where the faces of the people recorded were clearly visible.
At the same time, Fact Check Cyprus warned that the absence of a clear AI marker does not mean the case is resolved. Investigators said they could not determine whether the video was edited, cropped or presented out of context. Without access to the full recording or information about how and under what conditions it was filmed, it remains impossible to fully assess the consistency of the conversation or the intent behind the release.
An online search turned up a profile with the same name, “Emily Thompson,” on the website eurasiareview.com. This profile was also listed as an independent analyst. Still, FactCheck Cyprus said there is no way to confirm whether two profiles belong to the same person.
Fact-checking organizations currently say the video is in a gray area. While clearly not fake, it is far from fully verified and is a reminder of how easily unverified material can sway public debate in the digital age.
