Web Desk: A fabricated video showing Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claiming the government had cancelled all visas for Pakistani nationals is circulating on social media, amid heightened scrutiny following a deadly shooting at a Sydney beach.
Video Appears Shortly After Beach Shooting
The six-second clip, uploaded on Facebook on December 15 by a user in India, was generated using artificial intelligence. In the footage, Albanese is shown announcing that “all visa services for Pakistanis are immediately suspended” following the arrest of a supposed Pakistani terrorist, Naveed Akram, in connection with the attack. Analysts and officials have confirmed that the video is fake.
Sydney Attack Left 15 Dead
The false video surfaced days after the December 14 shooting at a Sydney beach, where a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50 and Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on a Jewish crowd, killing 15 people. Albanese pledged a crackdown on extremism in response to the incident, including new powers for the interior minister to cancel or reject visas for individuals spreading hate.
Authorities Deny Any Visa Ban
An Australian Department of Home Affairs spokesperson told AFP on December 19 that visa services for applicants from Pakistan remain unchanged. There is no official record identifying the father or son involved in the attack as Pakistani citizens.
Clarifying the Suspects’ Backgrounds
During a December 15 press conference, the Australian interior minister confirmed that the younger suspect, Naveed Akram, is an Australian citizen, while his father, Sajid Akram, originally arrived in Australia from Hyderabad, India, on a student visa in 1998. Telangana police also confirmed Sajid Akram’s Indian origin.
Experts Identify AI Manipulation
Media analysts noted inconsistencies in the video, including mismatched lip movements and voice, confirming that artificial intelligence was used to create the misleading footage.
