An AI-generated video showing children allegedly being swept away by flash floods has been falsely shared on social media as footage from Nepal, according to a fact-check by The Quint.
The video has circulated alongside claims that it shows children caught in devastating floods in Nepal. However, the fact-check found that the footage was generated using artificial intelligence and does not show an actual flood incident in the country.
Video creates a false impression
The footage appears to depict children being carried away by rapidly moving floodwater, making it potentially distressing for viewers.
However, the claim attached to the video is false. The visuals do not provide genuine evidence of children being swept away in Nepal, despite the way the video has been presented online.
AI makes fake footage harder to spot
The incident highlights the growing challenge posed by AI-generated visuals on social media. Realistic-looking artificial content can quickly be mistaken for genuine photographs or videos, particularly when it is shared during an ongoing disaster.
Such misleading posts can cause unnecessary fear and confusion while making it harder for people to identify reliable information during emergencies.
Check before sharing distressing visuals
The fact-check serves as a reminder to verify the origin of dramatic videos before forwarding them on social media.
Users should be cautious about posts that make alarming claims without identifying a credible source, particularly when the content involves children, natural disasters or other sensitive events.
As AI-generated content becomes increasingly sophisticated, checking information through reliable news organisations and established fact-checking platforms remains important.
The Nepal flood video is a reminder that a realistic-looking image or video is not necessarily evidence of a real event.