A report of a highly venomous snake in Santa Ana turned out to be fabricated using an AI-generated image, police say.
Santa Ana police issued a public warning this week after receiving a report that a Gaboon viper had been spotted in a tree near Main Street and Edinger Avenue.
Police and Reptile Experts Responded
Because the African species is highly venomous, authorities treated the report seriously and worked with reptile experts to search the area. No snake was found.
Police later said the person who made the report admitted the image submitted as evidence had been generated with artificial intelligence and that the sighting was false.
False Report Could Bring Consequences
Authorities said the man could face a citation or other consequences related to the false report. Police emphasized that even when an image appears suspicious, officers must still investigate a potential public-safety threat until it can be ruled out.
The incident is another example of how realistic AI-generated images can complicate verification for public agencies and news organizations.
Source: Los Angeles Times. Featured image is illustrative.
