Fake hurricane videos go viral. Here’s how to spot old and fabricated images online.

As Hurricane Milton hit the west coast of Florida, dozens of misleading or AI-generated videos spread across social media, racking up millions of views across all platforms. A video, falsely purporting to show Milton, was actually filmed during a 2021 nor’easter in Massachusetts. Another montage, which was viewed 1.5 million times on X, contained AI-generated footage.

Experts say Misleading visuals routinely go viral after major natural disasters, often in an attempt to rack up views or spread false claims. The National Weather Service has previously warned of “false or intentionally inaccurate severe weather reports” on social media, featuring photos or videos taken during events “that occurred months or years ago “.

Cayce Myers, a public relations professor at Virginia Tech, said the viral AI-generated images during Hurricane Helene highlight the challenges of AI and social media.

“AI technology offers a greater ability to create realistic and misleading images,” Myers said, adding: “The problem is that these false images influence people’s perception of reality, and social media fuels the spread of this disinformation.”

How to Spot Fake Videos Online

The CBS News Confirmed team has compiled these tips on how to spot fake videos that often appear after natural disasters:

1. Take a moment to think about the media you see. Do the images appear to match other photos and videos from the location where they were filmed, or are there elements that look out of place? Are there any elements that suggest the video was fabricated, like the unrealistic waves in this AI-generated TikTok video?
2. Find other photos or videos of the same location or scene. What do the other angles show and do they seem to match? Otherwise, it’s possible that the images are from a previous weather event or potentially AI-generated.

   Julia Feerrar, an associate professor at Virginia Tech, said search engines are helpful in this case: “Describing the image and adding the phrase ‘fact check’ to your search is often the quickest way to get more information and debunk misleading content. »

3. Check which reputable sources, including media outlets and journalists, are reporting to see if their reports match the content you found online. Look for official statements from government officials or content posted on their verified social media accounts or websites.

   For example, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety released fact checks on AI-generated content and other misinformation that swirled online amid Hurricane Helene.

Keep in mind that some of these videos circulating on social media are simply recycling old footage.

Social media policies on weather misinformation

House Democrats from states affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton wrote a letter Friday to seven tech companies, including Facebook, TikTok and misinformation, conspiracy theories and scams that hamper “recovery efforts and exploit vulnerable individuals and families” following Helene’s accident.

Contacted by CBS News, Meta and TikTok said both companies are actively working to remove content that violates their policies.

A TikTok spokesperson said the company directs people searching for Milton or Helene content on its platform to official FEMA videos, and added that the company works with 19 independent fact-checking organizations around the world. .

Meta said the company removes content that violates its community standards policies and works with 10 third-party fact-checking organizations in the United States to debunk false claims or limit the reach of content if it has been found to be false.

A representative for X did not return a request for comment.

Beyond CBS News Confirmed’s tips for spotting weather misinformation online, the nonprofit think tank RAND has developed a 17-point checklist with more information on how to avoid spreading false statements or misleading the media during natural disasters.