AI-driven misinformation sparks fear after El Mencho's killing in Mexico

After the operation that killed Mexico’s most powerful drug lord El Mencho, social media overflowed with AI-generated videos and false claims, fueling panic even as authorities warned the public and worked to debunk misinformation. Officials counted 200–500 problematic posts—35–40% lacking context, about 25% misleading, and 25% AI-manipulated—with some posts suggesting airports were seized or hostages taken. Experts say the Jalisco cartel and others are leveraging online tools to amplify chaos, while many Mexicans learned of events through chat groups and X.