Disinformation abounds online in aftermath of Kumamoto quake in Japan
Television screens in Tokyo show news coverage of a powerful earthquake hitting Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28. Some social media accounts have claimed that shaky footage of the quake was fake. REUTERS Photo
The Japan Times
Disinformation, including artificial intelligence-generated material, has been circulating online in the aftermath of the July earthquake in Kumamoto, pushing political views and conspiracy theories.
Some social media accounts claimed the earthquake itself had never happened, dismissing shaky NHK footage as “fake.” Others claimed large white clouds that hovered above the city were proof that the quake was “man-made,” with various posts on X being shared thousands of times.
In other languages, AI-generated images of a smoldering Aeon mall were distributed while other widely shared posts claimed the explosion at the mall, which is believed to have been caused by damaged gas pipes, was a hoax or that there was a coverup underway.
Politically motivated disinformation was also prevalent online, largely targeting foreign nationals.
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