In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation in the United States, a surge of misinformation has emerged online. Among the falsehoods spreading are two manipulated images that falsely portray a child in a boat amidst floodwaters.
At first glance, these images appear genuine. They depict a young child wearing a life jacket and holding a dog as rain pours down. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that these are deepfakes created using artificial intelligence.
The flaws in the images are hard to miss. One major giveaway is the presence of an extra finger on the child in one of the pictures. Additionally, the child is shown wearing different shirts in the two images and sitting in different types of boats. Even the dog in the photos appears different, with its coat darker in one of the more pixelated versions.
Despite these obvious errors, the images gained traction online. Utah Senator Mike Lee unknowingly shared one of the fake images on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it "Caption this photo." After users pointed out the manipulation, he quickly deleted the post. Similarly, a Facebook user shared the image, urging people to help "babies and their families" affected by the storm.
Experts warn that such doctored images, especially during natural disasters, can have severe consequences. These misleading visuals can hamper relief efforts, distort public understanding of the crisis, and diminish trust in official sources. In some cases, such misinformation can even lead to scams, where people's goodwill is exploited for fraudulent fundraising efforts. However, it remains unclear if the images in question have been used for this purpose.
To combat the spread of misinformation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has taken action. They have created a Rumor Response page dedicated to debunking false claims. This includes clarifying that FEMA is not confiscating properties, withholding aid based on demographics, or seizing donations and supplies.
One particularly bizarre conspiracy theory suggests that the government used weather control technology to steer Hurricane Helene toward Republican voters. FEMA has firmly rejected this claim and others like it, urging the public to stay informed through official sources.
In a statement, FEMA encouraged vigilance: "Help keep yourself, your family, and your community safe after Hurricane Helene by being aware of rumors and scams and sharing information from trusted sources."
The agency continues to work on clearing up falsehoods and providing accurate information to the public.
