Aug 01 (News On Japan) - Following the massive earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, tsunami warnings and advisories were issued across wide areas of Japan, including reports of waves over one meter high in places such as Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture.
The tremors disrupted transportation systems, with train lines like the JR Tokaido Line suspended and Sendai Airport temporarily closed. In Yokosuka, a man was forced to rely on a ride from his boss after trains stopped running, arriving home one to two hours late. At a local gym, classes were canceled as instructors were unable to commute.
Amid the chaos, social media was flooded with questionable content, including videos and claims that experts say are likely false or AI-generated.
One viral video, posted with the caption "A 4-meter tsunami was recorded in parts of Kamchatka," shows an enormous wave rushing onto a beach lined with palm trees. Another clip depicts waves engulfing skyscrapers in an urban area. However, Isao Echizen, a professor at the National Institute of Informatics, noted inconsistencies suggesting AI fabrication. "There are two red human figures at the bottom that suddenly become one. The waves don't lose energy despite obstacles. The time axis is unnatural," Echizen explained.
These videos, he says, are likely created using generative AI.
Other misinformation includes widely shared posts predicting future earthquakes, such as one highlighting the Kanto region with a red border and warning of an impending magnitude 3–4 quake. The Japan Meteorological Agency has reiterated that earthquakes cannot be predicted.
Echizen added that not all misleading content is AI-generated. In one widely shared video showing people screaming and fleeing as a large tsunami hits a beach—captioned as footage of waves reaching Hawaii after the Kamchatka quake—he identified reused clips from past disasters. “It’s real footage, but from a different event,” he said.
Another recycled clip, originally posted two years ago, shows dolphins or whales stranded onshore, with fishermen attempting to rescue them. The recent post links the footage to the current tsunami, falsely implying a connection.
These kinds of misleading posts continue to surface online, often blending past events with current ones to grab attention.
On the street, opinions are divided. "If someone says it's real, it looks real. But if they say it's AI-generated, that makes sense too. It's hard to tell unless you see it yourself," one person said. Another remarked, "This one is definitely fake—no way it was that bad. But maybe this other one could be real. People only watching the internet might believe everything they see, which is a bit scary."
So how can people avoid falling for such fakes?
"Distinguishing real from fake footage is extremely difficult, especially during disasters when people are panicked," said Echizen. "Social media is the fastest source, but content creators often prioritize views over truth. The key is not to take everything at face value. Rely on official sources like government agencies, municipalities, and reputable media."
Disasters tend to create fertile ground for misinformation. Comparing multiple sources and maintaining a calm, critical mindset is essential to avoid being misled.
Source: FNN
