An AI-generated YouTube channel called True Crime Case Files created fake 'true crime' documentaries about fictional murders in Colorado cities, generating millions of views and thousands of dollars in revenue while deceiving viewers who believed the fabricated stories were real.
The YouTube channel True Crime Case Files, launched in December 2023, has been creating AI-generated 'true crime' documentaries about fictional murders that never occurred. The channel has gained over 85,000 subscribers and produced over 100 videos in eight months. One video about a supposed murder in Littleton, Colorado involving Richard Engelbert and his stepson Harrison garnered nearly 2 million views, while another about a Fort Collins case received 200,000 views. The videos use AI-generated narration, fake photos of people with an 'uncanny valley' appearance, and fabricated details including non-existent street names, incorrect pronunciations, and made-up officials. Local law enforcement and district attorneys confirmed no records exist for any of the cases depicted. The videos contain basic factual errors about Colorado's legal system and geography. Hundreds of viewers have commented believing the stories are real, expressing shock and outrage over the fictional crimes. Professor Casey Fiesler estimated the channel could have earned tens of thousands of dollars from the most popular video alone. District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin expressed concern that such fake content could undermine public trust in real crime reporting and the justice system.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
AI systems that inadvertently generate or spread incorrect or deceptive information, which can lead to inaccurate beliefs in users and undermine their autonomy. Humans that make decisions based on false beliefs can experience physical, emotional or material harms
AI system
Due to a decision or action made by an AI system
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed