Name: Misinformation spreads about German Christmas markets
Uploaded: 2025-11-03T17:09:05.223Z
Duration: 1 min 59 s
Description: Misinformation about the festive season has already begun, particularly regarding the alleged closure of German Christmas markets.

Misinformation about the festive season has already begun, particularly regarding the alleged closure of German Christmas markets.

Berlin

A widely shared image on social media, purportedly showing a German Christmas market surrounded by heavy security, has been identified as AI-generated. The image, which includes blurred details and a visible Gemini logo, has been used to spread unfounded fears about terrorism and immigration, as well as false claims that all German Christmas markets are being cancelled.

Authorities and tourism offices in German cities such as Cologne and Frankfurt have confirmed that their Christmas markets will proceed as usual, with appropriate security measures in place. While some smaller markets may close for various reasons, the majority of events are set to go ahead, countering the misleading narratives circulating online.

Misinformation spreads about German Christmas markets

No, this heavily guarded German Christmas market isn't real. It might still be too early for some, but with Halloween over, Christmas is well and truly on the way. This also means, however, that a wave of misinformation about the festive season is also on its way. A picture going around online and shared on social media in multiple European languages allegedly shows a small German Christmas market surrounded by police, vehicles and fences. The captions shared with the photo lament that Christmas markets in Europe now have to be heavily protected from terrorist attacks, with some baselessly blaming immigration or diversity. However, the image has clearly been AI generated. Zooming into people's faces and text like the vehicle's registration plates shows that they are blurred and distorted. Additionally, in the bottom right hand corner of the picture we can just about see the logo of Gemini, Google's AI assistant, proving that it was artificially created. Those sharing the photo appear to want to whip up fear off the back of real terrorist attacks that have targeted German Christmas markets in the past, such as the attack in Berlin in 2016 and the attack in Magdeburg last year. The incidents have also sparked other misleading narratives related to the markets, most notably false claims that Germany is cancelling all its Christmas markets due to fears over immigration and terrorism. We can easily check this by visiting the Tourism Office websites belonging to the cities where Germany hosts some of its most iconic markets. The city of Cologne, for example, whose Christmas markets welcome around 4 million people a year, is still clearly preparing to celebrate the festivities from mid-November. The same is true of Frankfurt, which clearly indicates the date its markets will be open. While there have been reports of some smaller markets being shut down for various reasons, the vast majority will still go ahead, complete with comprehensive, reasonable security measures.

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