AI Deepfakes Flood Social Media Amid US Hurricanes

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a surge of misinformation and deepfakes, crafted by both artificial intelligence and humans, has inundated social media. This wave is fueling unfounded fears regarding another impending cyclone, reports Decrypt.

On September 26, Hurricane Helene struck Florida, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Now, another hurricane, Milton, is approaching the state and is expected to reach the southeastern coast by October 9.

4 am CDT — Extremely powerful Hurricane #Milton is just north of the Yucatan Peninsula. Forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it reaches Florida Wednesday night. This is a very serious threat and residents in Florida are urged to listen to local officials.… pic.twitter.com/UifYnQO9rf

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 8, 2024

On social media, claims have emerged suggesting that humans are controlling the weather and that the recent hurricane was man-made. This view is supported by politician Taylor Greene.

How easily can the government manipulate a hurricane? Considering they’ve been at it since 1947, they’ve had plenty of practice.
Now reports of a new storm system “Milton” set to hit FL (another Red State) later this week. When do we stop chalking all this up to coincidence?… pic.twitter.com/d4xw70MhFk

— Drew (@TruDrewdoggKC) October 7, 2024

“How easily can the government manipulate a hurricane? Considering they’ve been at it since 1947, they’ve had plenty of practice,” he noted.

Additionally, fake images and videos are being generated using artificial intelligence. One such image depicts Donald Trump wading through a torrent of water.

Another image shows current US President Joe Biden rescuing cats.

Yet another AI-generated image shows a little girl holding a puppy, shared by RNC member Amy Kremer. The post garnered over 3 million views.

This picture has been seared into my mind.

My heart hurts?? pic.twitter.com/SCwEMP0aXC

— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer) October 3, 2024

The humanitarian organization Red Cross has debunked several circulating myths, including those about confiscation and disposal of donated items and forcible takeover of shelters.

Misinformation can spread quickly after a disaster, causing confusion and distrust within communities struggling to recover. Unfortunately, we’re seeing this during our response to Hurricane Helene.

Sharing rumors online without first vetting the source and verifying facts… pic.twitter.com/nSfvE12JBc

— American Red Cross (@RedCross) October 3, 2024

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also published a list of rumors and falsehoods circulating on social media.

Among the benefits of using artificial intelligence in emergencies, Monica Youngman highlighted the translation and dissemination of information in more than five languages. She is the Chief Scientist of the Science and Technology Integration Division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Back in August, telecommunications company Lingo Telecom was fined $1 million for distributing a Biden deepfake.