AI-Generated Hoax Dupes Thousands in Dublin Halloween Parade

A website error led to crowds gathering for a non-existent Halloween event, highlighting the dangers of misinformation online.

The website My Spirit Halloween mistakenly advertised a Halloween parade in Dublin, leading thousands to gather on O'Connell Street.
The site, based in Pakistan, used AI-generated content to list events, inadvertently spreading false information about the parade.
Irish police dispersed the crowd, confirming no parade was scheduled, and advised the public to verify event details from reliable sources.
The incident caused brief disruptions to Dublin's tram network and sparked discussions on the spread of misinformation online.
Website owner Nazir Ali apologized, stating the listing was a human error, not an intentional scam, and expressed embarrassment over the mistake.