Boston MSNBC Footage of ‘No Kings’ Protest: Examining Its Authenticity

In a striking case of digital disinformation, a peaceful “No Kings” demonstration that drew thousands to Boston Common this weekend became the center of a viral falsehood claiming the event never happened as reported.

The protest, which was extensively documented through drone and helicopter footage, received live coverage from multiple local stations and was witnessed firsthand by thousands of attendees. Yet within hours of the event, social media platforms were flooded with allegations that MSNBC had aired “recycled footage” from a 2017 protest instead of showing the current gathering.

The false claim gained remarkable traction, with one post alone garnering over 15,000 likes. Individuals with no connection to Boston suddenly positioned themselves as authorities on what had or hadn’t occurred on the Common. Some even critiqued the appearance of foliage in the footage, despite lacking expertise in regional botany.

At the root of this misinformation was an artificial intelligence tool called Grok, developed by xAI. When users asked the chatbot to verify the footage, it incorrectly identified Saturday’s protest images as being from 2017, citing “superficial similarities” between the events. Though Grok later corrected this error, the initial false assessment had already gained significant momentum across social platforms.

BBC Verify subsequently conducted a thorough investigation, confirming what local witnesses already knew: the footage was authentic. Their verification process included matching the aerial shots with drone footage and cross-referencing with local news reports from NBC Boston, WCVB, and Boston 25 News. They even performed reverse image searches, finding no prior instances of the exact footage before the protest date.

The spread of this false narrative followed a predictable pattern. After Grok’s initial error, the claim was amplified by several influential social media accounts. One early viral post with thousands of reposts directly accused MSNBC of using outdated footage. This allegation was then further propagated by additional accounts, collectively generating hundreds of thousands of views.

The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities in our information ecosystem. Even events witnessed by thousands in person and broadcast live on multiple networks can be called into question through algorithmic mistakes and strategic amplification.

Political analyst Sue O’Connell noted that the “No Kings” protests across the country were predominantly peaceful demonstrations. She drew parallels to the early Tea Party movement, which ultimately transformed the Republican Party, suggesting the current movement could have similar political impact.

This case highlights a troubling reality of our digital age: falsehoods often travel faster than corrections. It demonstrates how quickly people are willing to accept information that aligns with their preexisting views, especially when it comes packaged with the perceived authority of advanced technology.

For media consumers, the incident underscores the importance of critical evaluation before sharing content online. Verifying information through multiple reliable sources remains essential, particularly for claims that challenge widely documented public events.

As AI tools become more integrated into our information landscape, this episode serves as a cautionary tale about their limitations and the potential consequences when their errors intersect with political discourse and social media amplification.