Social media clips of crying US soldiers may be AI-generated. Here’s how to spot them
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Fake videos of US soldiers crying or in dire conditions are being generated using artificial intelligence and spreading on social media platforms. These videos can be misleading and are often created for financial gain.
Videos appearing to show US soldiers crying or in dire conditions are being generated using artificial intelligence. The videos often address family members directly and are designed to elicit an emotional response. Creators have a financial incentive to produce such content, which can earn money through social media platforms or direct users to malicious websites. At least 11 TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube accounts were found to be posting AI-generated videos of service members, with over 174,000 followers combined. The accounts gained 29.6 million views, with some video labels disclosing they were AI-generated. Meta, YouTube, and TikTok removed the accounts after being contacted by PolitiFact. The fake videos can heighten anxiety for military families and deepen division. The videos often use a standard background and script, and some accounts stick to videos of only men or women.
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