AI-generated fake news causes public panic and police action in China
Two separate incidents in China involved individuals using AI tools to generate and publish fake news that caused public panic. In Hubei, a false report of a boat capsizing circulated online, and in Yunnan, AI-generated videos of traffic accidents were shared. Police in both cases identified and administratively punished the creators for using AI technology to fabricate convincing false content.
What happened
On 20 July 2025, a social media post circulated claiming a three-level tour boat named 'Sanxia Sightseeing 6' capsized on the Yangtze River in Yichang, Hubei, on 19 July at 3 PM, causing 30 tourists to fall into the water. The post included AI-generated images to increase credibility.
Police investigation determined the post was fabricated using an AI tool by an account creator seeking to increase followers. In another incident, video posts showing traffic accidents with casualties in Dali, Yunnan were verified by authorities to be AI-generated. The individual who created and shared these videos, identified as Zhao moumou, used an AI tool to generate the realistic accident scene videos to gain views and followers.
Reported impact
The false claims caused public panic and required police response. Officials noted that the fake traffic accident videos, depicting multiple casualties and depicting police indifference to injured persons, would seriously damage the image and credibility of law enforcement if widely shared.
Police identified suspicious elements in the fake videos, including victims with 'abnormal body postures,' lack of on-scene control measures, and police and bystanders moving freely without following accident scene protocols.
Index analysis
The incidents demonstrate ease of creating realistic AI-generated videos and the difficulty ordinary people face in distinguishing false from authentic content. Police noted that AI technology application in video production has expanded rapidly, allowing simple operations to generate convincing false videos.
Governance controls
Hubei Province Public Security Department and Yichang City Public Security Bureau, working with cybersecurity departments, identified and located the Yichang account creator. The individual was given administrative punishment according to law.
Yunnan Yangbi County Public Security Bureau's cyber police team investigated and located Zhao moumou. According to the People's Republic of China Public Security Management Punishment Law, Article 25, Section (1), Zhao moumou was fined 400 yuan for disturbing social order.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.