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A leaked video that set off a political storm in Cyprus does not show clear signs of being manipulated with artificial intelligence, but major questions remain about who made it, how it was edited, and what context may be missing, according to an investigation released Thursday by Fact Check Cyprus.
After reviewing the footage that circulated widely on social media this week, Fact Check Cyprus said there were no obvious technical traces suggesting the video was created using AI or deepfake technology. Still, the group stressed that it cannot confirm the video’s production process, whether parts were edited, or who is behind its release.
The video includes recorded conversations with several high-profile political and business figures, among them Charalambos Charalambous, director of the Office of the President of the Republic; former Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis; and Cyfield Group CEO George Chrysochoos. Its sudden appearance online triggered sharp reactions across the political spectrum and fueled speculation about its authenticity.
The footage was posted on 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 United Kingdom. However, investigators said they were unable to verify the real identity of the person behind the profile.
Fact Check Cyprus also reported that a reverse image and video search produced no results, offering no clues about whether the material had appeared elsewhere online before being leaked.
To assess whether the footage had been artificially created or altered, the organization ran multiple checks using AI and deepfake detection tools, including Hive Moderation and the InVID-WeVerify platform. Those tests did not flag strong or convincing evidence that the video was generated or manipulated using AI, particularly in segments where the faces of those recorded are clearly visible.
At the same time, Fact Check Cyprus cautioned that the absence of clear AI markers does not settle the case. Investigators said they could not determine whether the video had been edited, selectively cut, 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 coherence of the conversations or the intent behind their release.
An online search did turn up a profile with the same name, “Emily Thompson,” on the website eurasiareview.com, also described as an independent analyst. Still, Fact Check Cyprus said there is no way to confirm whether the two profiles belong to the same person.
For now, the fact-checking group says the video sits in a gray zone: not clearly fake, but far from fully verified, a reminder of how easily unverified material can shake public debate in the digital age.
