「琵琶湖三市同時花火大会」中止 SNSで発表 県に必要な申請せず

On July 28th, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Gumi-moto, Japan. According to local reports, a massive explosion was caused by a gas leak at a large shopping mall, "Ieon Mall," in Gumi-moto City, resulting in multiple casualties. However, recently, some individuals have been falsely claiming to be victims of the earthquake and spreading misleading information on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) in order to collect donations.

The Japan Yomiuri Newspaper reported on the 9th that fake posts and AI-generated images showing damage to Ieon Mall were being circulated on X. One such post claimed, "Please send me a direct message (DM) if you know a family member who worked at Ieon Mall in Gumi-moto," which received over 14,000 views. Another post stated, "I am told that my mother has passed away."

This prompted people to send electronic donations in support of the family. However, it has since been revealed that no such employee existed at Ieon Mall. Those who sent money were later informed that the incident was a hoax and the person who posted the false information was seeking attention and validation. In the aftermath of the earthquake, social media has seen more instances of people posting QR codes to collect donations from victims.

Authorities and fire services have also warned against false rescue requests and the spread of AI-generated images of buildings collapsing. Moreover, there have been reports of 'profit-driven fake news' being used to instill fear during disasters. In Gumi-moto, a major earthquake occurred 10 years ago, and false news about a monkey escaping from a zoo had caused panic among residents.

However, this time, it appears that 'profit-driven fake news' is being used to exploit the situation. Professor Gimmura Leo Yohgo from Gakugei University of Education in Japan warned, "Considering the heatwave currently affecting the Gumi-moto disaster area, fake news about providing water and other necessities for heatstroke is also expected." He advised, "When encountering information with uncertain facts, please do not spread it."