San Diego Police warn about flood videos and AI images on social media

San Diego police are seeing more fake posts about local emergencies on social media. The increase became visible after recent flooding in the region. Residents shared videos and images that did not match the current weather events. Some content was generated by artificial intelligence. Other clips were old footage from previous years.

Ashley Nicholes is the Communications Manager for the San Diego Police Department. She said the department has noticed a rise in accounts posting quick video snippets. These accounts often share information they heard or saw on other platforms. Nicholes noted that it is difficult for a public safety agency to monitor and correct false information constantly.

The department runs a Media Relations Unit. This team provides accurate information to traditional media and online publications. They also post updates on the department's own social media channels. Many social media-based outlets verify their news with the police before publishing. They check details to ensure accuracy when reporting on police scenes.

However, not all accounts take those steps. Nicholes said some posters do not verify information before sharing it. This lack of checking is particularly risky for public safety updates. Incorrect details can lead to unnecessary panic in the community.

One recent example involved a school lockdown. The lockdown was in place due to an unfounded threat. A social media account stated definitively that there was an active shooter. The difference between a standard lockdown and a confirmed active shooter is large. Incorrect posts in that scenario can cause undo panic among residents and families.

In May, the department dealt with another instance of misinformation. This followed the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Social media and news media misidentified one of the suspects. An innocent person's photo and name appeared on a national stage. The police worked with news outlets to correct the record. They posted the correct suspect's name on their website.

To avoid giving the suspects further notoriety, the police did not release photos or names to social media. They used this case to show the importance of verifying information. Nicholes advised residents to check sources before reposting content they see.

The department sometimes corrects the record depending on the severity of the misinformation. They may comment on the post or attempt to reach out to the account holder. The goal is to remind people that social media is a rapid source of information. But it has downsides. Users should be mindful when using it for news updates.

Residents can help spot reliable news by checking dates on content. Many platforms show when something was posted. Local news organizations date all old footage before it airs or goes online. Shocking events like bad crashes or shootings should be verified via a search engine. Clicking on the profile associated with the post is another way to check credibility. Multiple posts of the same incident with different information can also signal an error.