Crazy bullshit
A video shows bees swarming a motorcycle's fuel tank as it is filled with E85 ethanol fuel at a petrol pump.
Spread on: X and Instagram, India (June 2026)
The real story
BOOM found the video carries a Gemini AI logo, and Google's detection tool found a SynthID watermark. It spread just after India launched E85 fuel, a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol, when many motorists were already worried about ethanol blends. The timing made the fake feel plausible.
The fact-checker's verdict: “False”. Our label never goes further than theirs.
How to spot it
Fakes often ride a real news story; when a clip neatly 'proves' a current worry, check it extra carefully.
The receipts
Viral Video Of Bees Swarming E85-Fuelled Bike Is AI-Generated ↗
BOOM · 2026-06-17
