Overview

• Social media platforms have been flooded with manipulated videos and images falsely depicting violence and military activity in Los Angeles protests.
• High-profile accounts, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Alex Jones, amplified misleading posts to portray demonstrations as chaotic plots funded by political opponents.
• Users turned to AI chatbots like X’s Grok and ChatGPT for fact checks, but flawed responses sometimes misdated or misattributed critical photos.
• Researchers warn that AI-driven false narratives are intensifying public anger and risk mobilizing supporters into street clashes.
• Governor Gavin Newsom decried the National Guard and Marine deployment and highlighted troop hardships as protests persist under heavy federal presence.