WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Photos show Senator Fatima Payman sticking her middle finger up in parliament.
OUR VERDICT
False. The images are AI-generated.
AAP FACTCHECK - Overseas Facebook users are stoking division online by sharing AI-generated images of an Australian senator making rude hand gestures in parliament.
The images purport to show Fatima Payman sticking her middle finger up at other politicians.
However, they have been faked using artificial intelligence (AI).
AAP FactCheck found several visual errors and inconsistencies that appear to be the result of using AI.
One of the fake images - published by a Facebook page run from Vietnam - depicts the West Australian politician holding up her middle finger in the senate.
"'SIT DOWN, NASTY WOMAN': The Insult That Just Blew Up in Fatima Payman's Face!" the caption reads.
However, a close inspection of the image reveals unrealistically sharp edges along the sides of Senator Payman's mouth and teeth that appear to blend into her gums.
Additionally, the skin on the knuckle of her middle finger appears warped and there is an unusual black smudge above her left eye.
The AI image appears to be based on a real photo of Senator Payman that was included in a 2024 news article by The Australian.
In the original photo, the senator is smiling and not making a rude hand gesture.
A similar post from another Facebook page run by users in the US and Vietnam depicts Senator Payman wearing a pink jacket and making another aggressive middle-finger gesture.
"Fatima Payman's 'Ghetto Trash' Slur Just Backfired!" the caption reads.
However, the woman in the image only has a passing resemblance to the real senator and contains visual errors, including a semi-transparent bottom lip - errors that occur in images generated using AI.
The image appears to be based on a genuine photo Senator Payman posted on Instagram in August 2025.
In the original photo she is smiling and not making aggressive facial expressions or rude hand gestures.
Some of the overseas-based Facebook pages posting the images mimic the names and logos of genuine media organisations, including one called the Australian Bulletin, which AAP FactCheck has previously debunked.
These pages all link to an external website laden with ads and more misleading claims.
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