Former "heute journal" moderator Claus Kleber has defended USA correspondent Nicola Albrecht following her immediate dismissal by ZDF for the uncredited use of AI-generated images in a report. Albrecht had incorporated AI scenes and archival footage from 2022 without proper labeling in a segment about children's fear of ICE arrests in New York. ZDF cited severe violations of their guidelines and journalistic standards for the decision. Kleber acknowledged Albrecht's significant error but emphasized her integrity and dedication to challenging assignments, arguing that the leadership should foster an environment free from fear, not one where journalists are afraid to make mistakes, and called for continued support for professionals like Albrecht to perform their work fearlessly.