Overview
- Authorities in Brown County, Ohio, say two juveniles have been criminally charged for incidents tied to the AI ‘homeless man’ stunt.
- Police from Yonkers, New York, to Salem, Massachusetts, issued public advisories calling the trend dangerous and dehumanizing toward people experiencing homelessness.
- Departments report 911 calls after recipients saw AI images of intruders, with officers racing to homes before the hoax was discovered.
- The trend has generated hundreds of TikTok posts and viral clips, including widely viewed family reactions that fueled copycats across platforms.
- TikTok has added AI labels to some flagged videos, but volume and speed outpace moderation, and police urge parents to discuss responsible use and verify images before calling 911.