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In the chaotic aftermath of Mexico’s most powerful drug lord’s death, social media became a battleground between fact and fiction as artificial intelligence-generated disinformation spread rapidly alongside legitimate reports of violence.
When Mexican armed forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel on Sunday, the criminal organization responded with widespread retaliatory violence across approximately 20 Mexican states. The resulting bloodshed claimed more than 70 lives.
As citizens scrambled for information amid roadblocks, explosions, and gunfire, many turned to social media where they encountered a disturbing mix of authentic reports and sophisticated fake content designed to amplify fear.
“We didn’t know what was true and what was false,” said Victoria Elizabeth Peceril, a 31-year-old mother of three in Guadalajara, which has since returned to relative calm. “We were really scared.”
The Mexican government reported between 200 and 500 problematic posts circulated during the crisis, with up to 30 individual posts reaching over 100,000 views each. Data compiled by Tecnologico de Monterrey, a private university, revealed that 35-40% of analyzed posts lacked proper context, at least 25% contained misleading information, and nearly 25% were either AI-manipulated or completely fabricated.
Among the most alarming false claims was a video purportedly showing a commercial aircraft ablaze at Guadalajara’s international airport, accompanied by messages claiming gunmen had seized the facility and taken tourists hostage. Other fabricated posts suggested a U.S. agent had strangled Oseguera Cervantes, that President Claudia Sheinbaum was hiding on a naval vessel off Mexico’s Pacific coast, or attempted to connect his killing to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“There was a lot of badly intentioned news Sunday, looking to generate terror,” President Sheinbaum stated during a press briefing.
The crisis highlights Mexico’s reliance on informal communication networks for safety information. Many citizens, particularly in northern border cities under cartel influence, regularly use messaging apps and social platforms like X to track criminal activity in real-time, similar to traffic updates that help residents avoid dangerous areas.
The Jalisco cartel’s established reputation for spectacular violence—including previously downing a military helicopter and attempting to assassinate Mexico City’s police chief—made even the most extreme claims seem plausible to many.
Nicolás Martín, a 28-year-old Mexico City resident who was staying near Puerto Vallarta when the violence erupted, admitted, “At first, we believed everything.” He noted the suspiciously high production quality of early videos purporting to show chaos in Puerto Vallarta, saying they resembled “what you see in movies” rather than authentic crisis footage, which would typically appear more haphazard.
Vanda Felbab-Brown, an organized crime expert at the Brookings Institution, suggested the Jalisco cartel itself may have orchestrated some of the disinformation. “The criminals are becoming very tech-savvy,” she explained, noting that among Mexico’s criminal organizations, the Jalisco cartel has particularly invested in developing its online capabilities.
“It was impressive to see the level of misinformation,” Felbab-Brown said, describing the fabricated airport takeover images as “impressive and sophisticated” and likely generated by AI tools controlled by the cartel. These posts “certainly added to the aura of chaos and meltdown in Mexico,” she added.
Despite efforts by Mexican authorities and the U.S. Embassy to counter false information, many residents struggled to separate fact from fiction. Sarai Olguín, a 22-year-old college student in Guadalajara, described receiving numerous unverified videos and photos from friends while sheltering at home.
Interestingly, Olguín believes the widespread misinformation may have inadvertently saved lives by keeping people indoors. “One post warned that ‘after a certain hour they were going to kill everyone,'” she recalled. “In a way it’s good, because all of this false news helped take care of people even though they sowed immense fear.”
The incident demonstrates the evolving intersection of organized crime and technology in Mexico, where social media now plays a crucial role during security crises—both as a vital information channel and as a vulnerable vector for sophisticated disinformation campaigns.
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8 Comments
While the violence and loss of life is deeply tragic, I’m curious to learn more about the broader implications for Mexico’s anti-cartel efforts. How might this incident shape the government’s future strategies and policies?
That’s a good question. The government’s response in the aftermath of this crisis will be critical in determining whether they can regain the upper hand against the cartels and restore a sense of stability and security for citizens.
The economic and social impacts of this disinformation crisis could be severe, especially for vulnerable communities. I hope the authorities can quickly restore stability and public trust through transparent, fact-based communication.
This highlights the ongoing challenges of combating organized disinformation campaigns, especially in regions with high levels of instability and violence. Strengthening digital media literacy and verifying information sources will be crucial going forward.
Indeed, the Mexican government’s effort to identify and remove hundreds of problematic social media posts is a positive step, but more comprehensive solutions are needed to address the root causes of disinformation.
The rapid spread of disinformation amid the violence following the cartel leader’s death is extremely concerning. It’s critical that legitimate news sources and authorities work to combat the spread of false information during such crises.
I agree, the ability of bad actors to leverage social media to amplify fear and confusion is alarming. Providing accurate, timely information is vital to keeping citizens safe.
The proliferation of AI-generated disinformation during this event is a worrying development. Technological solutions to identify and limit the spread of such content will be essential, alongside efforts to educate the public on verification and critical thinking.