False AI videos circulating online falsely depict sharks navigating the flooded streets of Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, is currently battering Jamaica and is anticipated to result in significant destruction. This marks the most intense storm to hit the island in its 174-year recorded history. Despite the government’s efforts to prepare, the streets of Kingston, the capital, remain deserted.
Concerns on the island have been exacerbated by fabricated images of sharks in the floodwaters. Numerous AI-generated videos have emerged, showcasing these predators in unreal scenarios.
While some of these misleading clips bear the watermark of OpenAI’s Sora model, others lack clear indicators of being inauthentic.
Senator Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s information minister, has been actively debunking false information during press briefings regarding the storm. In her statements, she highlighted the prevalence of fake videos circulating on messaging platforms and urged the public to rely on official sources for accurate updates.
In addition to the shark-related content, there are also other fabricated videos showing severe flooding and individuals fleeing from waves.
A meteorology professor at the University of Oklahoma has cautioned against the dangers posed by deceptive media. Professor Amy McGovern emphasized that the dissemination of fake content undermines the gravity of the situation, potentially leading to loss of life and property.
Having made landfall in southwestern Jamaica near New Hope, Melissa is projected to exit around St. Ann parish in the north, before proceeding towards Cuba on a diagonal path across the island. Reports of landslides, fallen trees, and widespread power outages surfaced ahead of the storm’s arrival, with officials warning of a slow recovery process due to the lack of resilient infrastructure.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness acknowledged the vulnerability of the region to a Category 5 storm, emphasizing the importance of swift recovery efforts amidst the ensuing challenges.
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