Passaris Says of Viral Sex Tapes in Equatorial Guinea Are Fake
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris sparked controversy after appearing to support claims that explicit videos allegedly depicting Baltasar Engonga, Equatorial Guinea’s finance chief, were generated using artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa, Passaris emphasized the risks AI technology poses for African nations, especially regarding privacy and ethical rights.
Passaris referred to the scandal involving Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), who is at the center of a storm following the leak of more than 400 intimate videos purportedly showing him in compromising positions with various women, including prominent individuals. Authorities detained Engonga following the leak, which has rocked the nation.
Passaris addressed parliamentarians, stating, “I want to touch on the African Commission on Human Rights and People’s Rights. Right now, in all social media, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea has been trending. He’s been trending because somebody leaked some 400 videos of him having intimate relationships with various women of various stature.” She continued, “And he comes out and says all those were AI-generated. I look at human rights and people’s rights, and I feel like, with AI coming in, what is the commission doing to ensure that they safeguard people’s rights?”
While Passaris did not specify how she learned of Engonga’s supposed AI claims, her statements imply she leans toward the belief that the videos could indeed be manipulated. However, the public has yet to see any official response from Engonga, and most circulating statements on social media stem from an unverified X account allegedly representing him.
Passaris’ comments, however, were met with backlash on social media, as Kenyans criticized her for propagating what some deemed baseless allegations at a high-level meeting. One user on X questioned, “You went all the way to speak about things you have no idea about. The dude in those videos is still in police custody and has not said a word since his arrest. How did you get his statement on AI?”
Others criticized her understanding of AI, arguing that it’s often possible to distinguish genuine footage from synthetic media. “Even the dumbest AI novice can tell a real video from a fake one. How can you not look at a video and tell whether it is AI or not? And you’re the one representing Kenya at such forums? Lord have mercy!” another commented.
Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue announced that the government would suspend all civil servants caught engaging in sexual activities in government offices, citing a breach of ethical standards. The affair continues to stir reactions both in Equatorial Guinea and internationally as AI’s impact on privacy and authenticity in media draws fresh scrutiny.
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Passaris Says of Viral Sex Tapes in Equatorial Guinea Are Fake
