Sign In

Delhi News Daily

  • Home
  • Fashion
  • Business
  • World News
  • Technology
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
Reading: How mainstream media kept falling for a fake image of Xi Jinping’s daughter | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
Share

Delhi News Daily

Font ResizerAa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Delhi News Daily > Blog > World News > How mainstream media kept falling for a fake image of Xi Jinping’s daughter | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
World News

How mainstream media kept falling for a fake image of Xi Jinping’s daughter | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

delhinewsdaily
Last updated: June 2, 2025 1:37 pm
delhinewsdaily
Share
SHARE


Contents
Xi Mingze’s fake image that fooled everyoneWhy the image looked credibleThe red flags and the investigationThe real identity behind “Xi Mingze”How the misidentification happenedThe consequences of misidentification
How mainstream media kept falling for a fake image of Xi Jinping's daughter

An image purporting to show Xi Mingze, the reclusive daughter of Chinese President Xi Jinping, walking a red carpet at a UN fashion event has circulated widely online, even appearing in reputable outlets like Newsweek and The Times. At first glance, the story seemed plausible. However, a detailed investigation by X user @echetus revealed the photo was a case of mistaken identity. The resulting inquiry exposed sloppy media verification and the dangers of blindly trusting image agencies. Here’s how the story unravelled—and what it says about journalism in the digital age.

Xi Mingze’s fake image that fooled everyone

The photograph was taken at the 2018 “Fashion 4 Development” First Lady’s Luncheon in New York, a high-profile UN-backed event attended by diplomats’ spouses. Getty and Alamy published the image, claiming the younger woman was Xi Mingze and the older was Peng Liyuan. With no verified adult images of Xi Mingze in public circulation, the photo seemed plausible. Mainstream media outlets used it without deeper verification, trusting the provided metadata.

Why the image looked credible

Xi Mingze is deliberately shielded from public view. Her name in Chinese, returns no search results on major platforms in China due to strict state censorship. No verified adult photos of her exist. So when a rare, polished image surfaced—apparently showing her next to someone resembling her mother—it passed as credible, especially with well-known sources attaching names to faces. This illusion of authenticity led many to accept it at face value.

The red flags and the investigation

An X user @echetus decided to examine the image more closely. While initial identification seemed sound, the woman labeled as Peng Liyuan clearly didn’t match known photos of the First Lady. Similar ethnicity and hairstyle aside, the differences in facial structure were apparent. Further research led @echetus to a Shutterstock listing from the same event, where the women were identified differently. The older woman was actually Noelle Kwok, a U.S. State Department official and decorated public servant.

The real identity behind “Xi Mingze”

Shutterstock identified the younger woman not as Xi Mingze, but as Fi (Catherine) Chen. While the name “Fi” is uncommon in Pinyin, it’s likely a nickname or a Westernized form. Little is publicly known about her, but importantly, there is no indication of any link to Xi Jinping’s family. The case was one of mistaken identity, may be unintentional, but significant.

How the misidentification happened

The likely cause was initial metadata confusion. It’s not uncommon for early errors in naming or tagging to propagate through syndication networks. Photo agencies and publishers often rely on metadata provided at the time of image upload, especially during fast-paced events. In this case, a mistake appears to have been copied across platforms without deliberate intent. As @echetus noted, this also reflects the deeper challenge of implicit bias, where individuals of the same ethnicity may be mistaken for one another based on superficial traits.

The consequences of misidentification

This incident shows how quickly a narrative can gain traction when visual proof appears to support it. Even major outlets can unknowingly reinforce misinformation when operating on metadata alone. Without cross-checking or consulting event organizers, an image of two unrelated women was seen worldwide as evidence of Xi Jinping’s daughter making a rare public appearance.The diligent investigation, the narrative was corrected before it spread further. It’s a reminder that images, even those from reliable sources, require independent verification. This case touches on broader issues: algorithmic metadata errors, assumptions rooted in appearance, and the fragility of trust in the media ecosystem. Xi Mingze remains a figure shrouded in intentional privacy—and for now, the world must rely on facts, not false sightings.





Source link

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article UN chief calls for probe into deaths near Gaza aid site – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
Next Article Emmanuel Macron’s wax statue stolen from Grevin Museum in Paris – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Another blow for Brazil! US slaps 50% tariff to safeguard American interests; cites Bolsonaro’s prosecution as economic emergency – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
  • US-South Korea deal: Seoul faces 15% tariff, ‘America will not be charged’; Washington to get $350 billion investments – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
  • These 9 stocks show consistent growth in quarterly EPS – Delhi News Daily
  • Sitanshu Kotak press conference: Inside details of Gautam Gambhir fight, India Playing XI, Bumrah – Delhi News Daily
  • Tejasvi Surya Demands Bengaluru Metro Yellow Line Opening In Lok Sabha Again Ahead Of Likely August Launch – Delhi News Daily

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

You Might Also Like

World News

German foreign minister visits Kyiv, pledges continued support for Ukraine – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

KYIV: Foreign minister Johann Wadephul made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Monday, in a show of continuing support for…

5 Min Read
World News

Jury finds 2 men guilty of supplying the bomb used to kill Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

Maltese Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia (Image credit: AP) A Maltese jury found two men guilty of complicity in the murder…

5 Min Read
World News

Dubai crown prince Sheikh Hamdan promoted to Lieutenant General: A look at his defence journey | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed after his promotion to Lieutenant General, leading UAE’s defence forward/ Image: Wikipedia TL;DRSheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed…

7 Min Read
World News

‘Racial discrimination illegal’: Indian-origin Harmeet Dhillon threatens DOJ probe against Zohran Mamdani for ‘tax the whites’ proposal – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

Harmeet Dhillon threatens probe against Zohran Mamdani's 'tax the whites' proposal. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon threatened…

5 Min Read

Delhi News Daily

© Delhi News Daily Network.

Incognito Web Technologies

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?