Belarusian Exarchate: Fraudsters use AI to discredit the Church

An illustrative image of artificial intelligence. Photo: Reuters

On March 11, 2026, the Synodal Information Department of the Belarusian Exarchate issued an official statement regarding the spread of fake accounts and videos created using neural networks, reports the official portal.

The Church has recorded the appearance of social media pages that pose as official parish resources and publish distorted footage from liturgical services. The purpose of such actions was identified as attempts to discredit clergy and parishioners. Representatives of the Exarchate noted that such videos are often created "on the verge of blasphemy," causing spiritual harm to viewers and the authors themselves.

Special attention in the statement was given to AI-generated "virtual clergy". The perpetrators put statements into their mouths that are “far from true Christian piety.” To distinguish a fake, believers are advised to pay special attention to the questionable origin of the accounts, unnatural movements, optical distortions, and mismatches between the audio and the video.

The department called for observing norms of "information hygiene" and taking a responsible approach to choosing spiritual nourishment, especially during Great Lent. Instead of consuming social media content, believers were invited to participate in real church services. "There you will be able to see everything with your own eyes, feel with your heart, and acquire true treasure for your soul in communion with God," the Synodal Department concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the head of the Belarusian Church discussed with the Vatican the possibility of a papal visit.

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