Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

French Gold Discovery Confirmed as AI-Generated Hoax

The widely circulated claim of a 150-tonne gold find in Auvergne was debunked, with major media outlets retracting reports after fact-checkers revealed its origins on an AI-driven fake news site.

Image
Bei der Feldarbeit entdeckte ein Bauer in Frankreich mehr als 150 Tonnen Gold auf seinem Land

Overview

  • The story of a French farmer discovering 150 tonnes of gold worth €4 billion in Auvergne has been confirmed as a fabricated hoax.
  • The claim originated from La Plasturgie, an AI-generated fake news site, and was amplified by international outlets, including Millet News in Greece.
  • French media outlets such as Le Midi Libre, Nice-Matin, and RTL info have removed their initial reports after verification by Linternaute and France Info.
  • Under French mining law, any subsoil resources, including gold, belong to the state, making any private claims invalid even if the discovery were real.
  • The hoax highlights the growing challenges posed by AI-generated misinformation in the digital news landscape and the public's susceptibility to sensational claims.