Bologna, August 8, 2026 – Homeless, cardboard boxes and garbage bags: the image of Bologna’s porticoes invaded by decay has been circulating on social media for a few days. But it is all a fabrication: they are all modified or recreated with artificial intelligence. The complaint comes from the page of ‘Scelgo Bologna’, later also shared by some majority city councilors.
Read more Silvana from ‘Canzone per un’amica’, Castellarano still remembers her: “Guccini made her eternal”
“Tired of seeing fake content created to harm our city”
“We are tired – reads a post from ‘Scelgo Bologna’ – tired of continuously seeing fake content created with AI to harm our city, which gather thousands and thousands of likes (how many are ‘real’, in 2026, remains a mystery)”. For this reason, the page managers write, “we have decided to say enough. We went to Strada Maggiore and saw how the images were modified with artificial intelligence: poles that do not exist, different houses behind, painted columns. Grates that disappear.”
Dozens of contents created ad hoc to create anger and outrage
Every day, the social profile managers further denounce, “dozens of contents to create anger and outrage pass through pages and chats. Do not be fooled. And let’s reflect on what it really means to love Bologna. Certainly, for us, not this. And imagine the tourists who see these contents.”
Diaco (Lista Conti): “The web full of denigratory campaigns”
Even harsher is Filippo Diaco, city councilor of the Lista Conti. “Enough now – thunders the majority member – the web is full to the brim with denigratory campaigns against Bologna. The worst thing is that they use the poor as a lever for the consciences of simpletons who get fooled. They are all fake images generated with AI. Often spread by people who have political ambitions and sometimes public offices”. And Diaco continues: “Let’s ask ourselves: who benefits from all this? Do we really want our beautiful city to be a victim of these fakes? Do we want it empty? Deserted? In ruins? Is this what we want to achieve? Do we want to drive residents away? Do we want to deter investors? Tourists?”.
Read more The guitarist Flaco Biondini: «Guccini left me everything. His songs? Textbooks. I love Italy becaus
Diaco: “Behind it there is a well-defined plan and strategy”
According to Diaco, “it is now clear: behind it there is a well-defined plan and strategy. Remember though: if it is very difficult to identify and punish those who invent and generate these fake news, because they are clever and hide well, all the naive ones who share them, perhaps in good faith, are liable to prosecution. Think carefully about all this before feeding these lies.”
Fattori (Pd): “Who creates and posts this stuff? Miserable people”
Following up comments Roberto Fattori, Pd city councilor. “Those who create and post this stuff are miserable people,” declares the Democratic member. Also outraged is Chiara Pazzaglia, president of Acli Bologna. “I have seen this post circulating in every group – she writes – the thing that disgusts me the most is the use of images of the homeless to trigger a war of the poor against the poor. I am disgusted by those who create them and those who use them, unfortunately also many friends I respect. This is what journalists are still for,” concludes Pazzaglia.
