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Last week, a significant incident unfolded as Fox News aired a story based on AI-generated footage, which falsely depicted individuals expressing outrage over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts. This led to a substantial rewrite of the article and an extraordinary editor’s note from the network, acknowledging their error.
The Deception: AI-Generated Misinformation
The core of the issue stems from a rising wave of AI-generated videos circulating online, designed to spread misinformation, particularly about recipients of SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. One such clip, which garnered widespread attention, showed a woman in a store vehemently arguing with an employee.
In the fabricated footage, the woman is heard saying, “They cut my food stamps. I ain’t paying for none of this s**t. I got babies at home that gotta eat.” This emotionally charged, yet entirely artificial, scenario was apparently convincing enough to bypass Fox News’s vetting process.
Fox News Runs the False Narrative
The network initially ran a story treating this AI-generated “ragebait” as genuine. The report was used to cultivate anger against SNAP, a vital program primarily benefiting children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The original headline, “SNAP beneficiaries threaten to ransack stores over government shutdown,” clearly indicated the inflammatory nature of the initial reporting.
The Correction and Rewrite
Following the discovery of the footage’s artificial origin, Fox News was compelled to almost entirely rewrite its story. A critical editor’s note was added at the bottom, stating: “previously reported on some videos that appear to have been generated by AI without noting that.”
The updated headline now reads: “AI videos of SNAP beneficiaries complaining about cuts go viral.” While the rewritten story still includes quotes from the AI-generated videos, it now critically acknowledges that the footage “appears to be generated by AI.” This highlights the challenge media outlets face in distinguishing real content from sophisticated fakes.
Wider Implications of AI Deepfakes
Critics, including The Bulwark’s Tim Miller, noted the problematic nature of the original story, even if the footage had been real. He remarked, “It’s outrageous to try to nit-pick a handful of people you think will play into the racial prejudice of your audience.”
The incident raises serious concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in manufacturing “evidence” to justify harmful narratives, especially when over 41 million Americans rely on SNAP to afford groceries. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality, the incident serves as a stark warning about the future of media integrity and the spread of misinformation.
This event underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance and robust verification processes within news organizations to combat the growing threat of AI-powered deepfakes and ensure accurate reporting.