Fox Valley Police Warn About AI-Created Crash Videos Spreading Misinformation on Social Media

In a troubling development for digital media consumers, law enforcement officials are warning about the rise of AI-generated videos depicting fake vehicle accidents on social media platforms, potentially causing unnecessary concern among local residents.

Fox Valley authorities have identified an emerging pattern of artificial intelligence-created content showing vehicles losing control on snowy highways. These deceptive videos, which sometimes appear without proper disclaimers, can be difficult to distinguish from genuine footage, creating confusion and potentially diverting emergency resources.

“With AI videos being more and more prevalent on the internet and social media, that’s something that agencies and communities are going to have to start preparing for,” said Menasha Police Community Liaison Officer Matthew Roe. He emphasized the importance of public education, adding, “We can help educate the community on how to determine, ‘Is this real? Is this fake?'”

While Northeast Wisconsin hasn’t yet experienced widespread circulation of locally-focused fake accident videos, authorities remain vigilant. The technology behind these fabrications has become increasingly sophisticated, making detection more challenging for average social media users.

Officer Joe Benoit of the Neenah Police Department indicated that while such content hasn’t significantly impacted their operations yet, the department has protocols in place. “If somebody calls our department because they’re concerned about a crash, whether that’s an actual crash or one of these AI-generated things, we would advise them if there was a road blockage or a detour established, but beyond that, we wouldn’t be providing any information,” he explained.

The phenomenon represents part of a broader trend of AI-generated misinformation that has accelerated in recent years. As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible to the general public, the creation of convincing fake content no longer requires specialized technical knowledge or expensive equipment.

Local news monitoring groups have expressed frustration over the proliferation of such content. Doug Raflik, who operates the Fond du Lac County breaking news Facebook page, criticized the practice. “It’s ridiculous. It’s amazing the quality that AI can come up with, and I’m fascinated by it. But for people to share it and be misleading with it, unacceptable,” Raflik said.

He further cautioned social media users about the reputational risks of spreading misinformation. “I don’t want to tell people not to share stuff. It’s their business. But keep in mind, you kind of look like an idiot when it does turn out to be fake and you were the one saying, ‘Hey, look at this, this is it.'”

Beyond fake accident footage, Neenah police have observed other AI-generated scams targeting local residents. Particularly concerning are phone scams that utilize AI to clone the voices of victims’ loved ones, creating convincing impersonations to extract money or personal information.

Media literacy experts recommend several strategies for identifying AI-generated content, including checking for unnatural lighting, strange artifacts around moving objects, and inconsistencies in physics or environmental interactions. Users should also verify information through multiple credible sources before sharing potentially misleading content.

The rise of AI-generated misinformation presents a significant challenge for law enforcement, emergency services, and local news organizations. As detection tools struggle to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated generation technology, community awareness and critical media consumption become essential safeguards against digital deception.

Local authorities urge residents to report suspicious content to platform administrators and, in cases where public safety might be concerned, to contact appropriate emergency services for verification rather than relying solely on social media for accurate information.