Feb 17, 2026, 1:53 p.mFeb 17, 2026, 1:53 p.m
ZDF has apologized for errors in a report on the news program “heute journal” about deportations of minors in the USA.
The German broadcaster said that at one point in the broadcast on February 15, AI-generated images were used without labeling or classification. In addition, another scene shown in which a child is taken away is real, but comes from a different context from 2022.
The deputy editor-in-chief and head of current affairs, Anne Gellinek, explained that the article did not meet ZDF standards and should not have been broadcast in this form. The broadcaster has therefore removed the article from all platforms and will report correctively both on “ZDFheute” and at the same place in “heute journal”.
Changed edition of the show in the media library
Upon request, ZDF had already stated that AI-generated images had been used in the report on operations by the US migration agency ICE and that they should have been labeled. For technical reasons, this identification was not transferred when the contribution was transferred. The online portal “Nius” first reported about it.
It is not known whether the editorial team was aware that they were sending AI-generated content.Image: www.imago-images.de
A modified edition of the program was now available in the ZDF media library. The AI images were replaced there by other video sequences and still images. A note was displayed above parts of the post stating that the video had been subsequently changed for editorial reasons.
According to the broadcaster, ZDF’s AI principles stipulate that AI-generated image material must always be labeled transparently. ZDF left it open whether the editorial team was aware at the time of broadcast that the images used were AI-generated material. (sda/dpa)