In Istanbul, Turkey, a recent earthquake led to over 150 injuries as people jumped from buildings, though no fatalities were reported. This event, as is common, triggered a surge of online content, with many videos and images circulating on social media. However, a significant portion of this content proved to be misinformation, potentially causing panic and obstructing effective disaster management.

Research indicates that many of the videos shared online following the Istanbul earthquake did not accurately represent the event. One example includes a viral TikTok video depicting a torn-up street and collapsed buildings, falsely attributed to the recent earthquake. Fact-checking revealed the video to be AI-generated, with visual anomalies such as disappearing streetlamps and distorted human figures. Despite these inconsistencies, many viewers believed the footage to be authentic, highlighting the rapid spread of AI-generated misinformation during breaking news events. Similar patterns were observed after earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand earlier in the year.

Another misleading video claimed to show a building collapsing in Istanbul during the recent earthquake. This video quickly amassed over 5 million views, but a reverse image search revealed that it actually dated back to the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria in February 2023, which resulted in over 56,000 deaths and widespread displacement. The reuse of old footage contributes to the confusion and anxiety surrounding current events.

A widely shared image on X, showing collapsed buildings and expressing condolences for the earthquake in Istanbul, was also found to be misleading. This image, too, originated from the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, specifically depicting destroyed buildings in Hatay. The dissemination of outdated images further exacerbates the spread of misinformation in the wake of natural disasters.

Following the earthquake in Turkey, misleading, fake, and outdated content spread rapidly online. The article warns that with ongoing aftershocks in Istanbul, further false claims and images are likely to surface, emphasizing the need for caution and verification when consuming social media content related to such events.

In a separate development, scientists in the United States have strongly criticized the White House for promoting the “lab leak theory” regarding the origins of COVID-19. The White House website published an article suggesting that the virus originated from a leak at a Chinese laboratory and that US public health officials suppressed this theory. This has prompted widespread concern and condemnation from the scientific community.

Numerous scientists and public health experts have rejected the White House's assertions, emphasizing that the natural origin theory remains more plausible based on available evidence. They argue that the claims presented on the White House website are misleading and factually inaccurate. Virologist Angela Rasmussen described the website as “pure propaganda,” aimed at undermining public health and biomedical research.

Scientists stress that the “lab leak theory” lacks new scientific support, with the White House merely recycling previously disputed claims. The assertion that the virus contains a unique biological characteristic is challenged by the existence of similar features in other viruses and the close resemblance of the novel coronavirus to known bat coronaviruses.

Evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey notes that the evidence aligns more closely with the virus spilling over from animals to humans. The scientific community is concerned that the White House article is politically motivated and contradicts established scientific evidence, undermining public trust by replacing public health resources with politically charged narratives.

The promotion of the “lab leak theory” has been linked to xenophobia and hate crimes, particularly against people of Asian descent. The proliferation of the theory correlated with a rise in anti-Asian hate incidents. Additionally, the White House's removal of practical COVID-19 resources in favor of promoting the “lab leak theory” has been criticized as detrimental to public health.

A study published in the Journal of Virology warns of “dangerous” consequences of promoting the lab leak hypothesis without evidence, stating that it fuels mistrust in science and public health infrastructures and undermines efforts to combat future pandemics. The politicization of the novel coronavirus origin tracing has also led to personal attacks on scientists, fostering a climate of mistrust and hostility.