Ankara man arrested for using AI to fake ties to Erdoğan

A man named Mehmet Çakmak has been arrested in Ankara for using artificial intelligence to create fraudulent images. The suspect used AI tools to insert himself into photos alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.

Çakmak shared these manipulated images on his WhatsApp status to create a false impression of having close ties and significant influence within the highest levels of the Turkish government. Authorities determined his actions were intended to gain social prestige and influence through the appearance of bureaucratic authority.

Following an investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Çakmak was apprehended in the Keçiören district. He faces charges of “influence peddling” and “publicly spreading false information to create anxiety, fear, or panic among the public.” He has been remanded in custody.