Bogus videos from the hurricanes are going viral. Here’s how to spot old and fabricated footage online.

As Hurricane Milton slammed Florida’s west coast, dozens of misleading or AI-generated videos spread on social media, racking up millions of views across platforms. One video, falsely said to show Milton, was actually filmed from a 2021 nor’easter in Massachusetts. Another montage, which had 1.5 million views on X, contained AI-generated footage. 

Experts say misleading visuals regularly go viral after major natural disasters, often with the aim of amassing views or spreading false claims. The National Weather Service has previously warned of “false or purposely inaccurate severe weather reports” on social media, featuring photos or video taken from events “that happened months to a few years ago.”

Cayce Myers, a professor of public relations at Virginia Tech, said viral AI-generated images during Hurricane Helene showcase the challenges with AI and social media. 

“AI technology is providing greater ability to …