Los Angeles Is Burning—And AI Deepfakes Are Fueling Misconceptions

As rescuers continue to battle fires across Los Angeles, another plague threatens treatment work: AI-generated deepfakes.

Images of the iconic Hollywood sign engulfed in flames as fire raged across Mount Lee started to circulate on X ( formerly Twitter ) on Wednesday. These images were created wholly using conceptual artificial intelligence techniques, though.

Following the Hollywood sign graphics, different falsified photos surfaced online, including misleading representations of looting—further adding to the dilemma.

The fire and deep-looting are just two examples of a growing trend of propaganda and conspiracies that spread during times of crisis. Similar strategies were employed in earlier disasters, such as Hurricane Helene next September, when fraudsters distributed AI-generated images of death in unaffected areas.

” It’s possible teasing, and they think it’s funny”, Tim Weninger, professor of computer science and engineering at University of Notre Dame, told . ” It could also be social or political, like implying California deserves to fire, criticizing Governor Newsom, or reacting to DEI in fire. These are the primary grounds, but there could be people”.

On Thursday, U. S. President-elect Donald Trump once posted on Truth Social to taking aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom and the management of the country’s waters. After recently asking the government to retire over his handling of the Southern California burns, Trump called him” Governor Gavin Newscum.”

Thanks to the accessibility of social media, these AI-generated graphics can spread quickly. Unsuspecting users are especially prone to believe that AI deepfakes are authentic, especially those who are unfamiliar with the area or problems specifics. A lack of connection by government officials, which can make it more difficult for the people to tell fact from fiction, adds to this problem.

Beyond inciting stress during crises, AI deepfakes are extremely weaponized for political manipulation. As the East Coast of the country struggled with the effects of Hurricanes Milton and Helene and Hurricane Sandy, AI deepfakes began appearing virtual with destroyed buildings in protest of reports that supporters of then-candidate Trump may not receive aid, additional polarizing the already tense political climate.

Weninger argued that people’s support for misinformation is generally based on societal values more than technological limitations, noting that by liking or sharing content, they also endorse it.

” Cultural media problems are often technology or fact-checking issues, but generally they are beliefs issues”, Weninger said. ” As a society, we don’t benefit sharing accurate, truthful information much. Every person of social media has a choice to make. Technology doesn’t do it for them, nor can anyone else”.

A spokeswoman with the Hollywood Sign Trust—a nonprofit organization that preserves, maintains, and promotes the Hollywood Sign—confirmed to that the signal is, in fact, unharmed and standing.

” Griffith Park is closed for cautious causes”, they said. ” The indication is safe and sound, and there is no validity to these fake stories”.