AI-generated fake content spreads during Kumamoto earthquake
Following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto on 28 July 2026, AI-generated fake news videos, false rescue requests and conspiracy theories spread rapidly on social media platforms including X and YouTube, potentially disrupting emergency response efforts.
What happened
Following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto on 28 July 2026, AI-generated fake news videos, false rescue requests and misinformation spread rapidly on social media platforms including X, YouTube and Threads.
A post claiming 'I am trapped underground, please save me' at a non-existent address received over 300,000 views on X before the account was suspended. YouTube hosted fake videos made with AI to appear as legitimate news broadcasts, receiving tens of thousands of views.
False information included claims that foreigners set fires, conspiracy theories about the earthquake being predicted or artificially triggered, and reuse of footage from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake presented as current disaster footage.
Reported impact
Local media and rescue authorities warned that the spread of false information could seriously disrupt actual disaster relief and on-site response activities.
Rescue operations experienced confusion, with the fake rescue request consuming resources and attention during the emergency response.
Index analysis
The incident reflects a pattern in Japan: similar false information circulated during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, when claims about escaped lions from a zoo spread, and during the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, which also saw false rescue requests.
Governance controls
The Japan Fact-Check Center urged people to verify sensational information through official public announcements or news reports before sharing unconfirmed information on social media.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.