OP 05 November, 2024 - 07:01 AM
The Parade… That Wasn't: How Disinformation Gathered Hundreds of Dubliners for a Fake Show
An unusual scene unfolded in the center of Dublin on the evening of October 31 – hundreds of people filled O'Connell Street, waiting for the start of a grand Halloween parade. However, as it turned out, the parade was just a figment of the imagination of unknown pranksters who created a fake website My Spirit Halloween with a fake announcement.
The fake turned out to be unusually convincing: the website announced that the procession of the Macnas theater company would take place from seven to nine o'clock in the evening, starting from Parnell Street and ending at Christchurch Cathedral. They promised a "breathtaking spectacle" with creativity, bright costumes and unique floats. Carefully crafted text and colorful descriptions attracted the city dwellers, and they believed the announcement.
But soon the deception became obvious. The Irish police, faced with chaos on the streets, were forced to intervene. Through social networks, the police called on the city dwellers to disperse and confirmed that no parade was planned. As it later turned out, the fake website was likely created using artificial intelligence technology to make it appear more believable.
The incident disrupted public transport and forced authorities to consider the dangers of disinformation, especially given the power of modern technology. X (formerly Twitter) users are already sharing photos and videos from the scene, highlighting how real the announcement seemed.
Interesting fact: the Macnas theatre company used to organise annual Halloween parades in Dublin, but this year's event was cancelled, which may have added realism to the fake announcement and avoided raising any suspicions among the city's residents.
An unusual scene unfolded in the center of Dublin on the evening of October 31 – hundreds of people filled O'Connell Street, waiting for the start of a grand Halloween parade. However, as it turned out, the parade was just a figment of the imagination of unknown pranksters who created a fake website My Spirit Halloween with a fake announcement.
The fake turned out to be unusually convincing: the website announced that the procession of the Macnas theater company would take place from seven to nine o'clock in the evening, starting from Parnell Street and ending at Christchurch Cathedral. They promised a "breathtaking spectacle" with creativity, bright costumes and unique floats. Carefully crafted text and colorful descriptions attracted the city dwellers, and they believed the announcement.
But soon the deception became obvious. The Irish police, faced with chaos on the streets, were forced to intervene. Through social networks, the police called on the city dwellers to disperse and confirmed that no parade was planned. As it later turned out, the fake website was likely created using artificial intelligence technology to make it appear more believable.
The incident disrupted public transport and forced authorities to consider the dangers of disinformation, especially given the power of modern technology. X (formerly Twitter) users are already sharing photos and videos from the scene, highlighting how real the announcement seemed.
Interesting fact: the Macnas theatre company used to organise annual Halloween parades in Dublin, but this year's event was cancelled, which may have added realism to the fake announcement and avoided raising any suspicions among the city's residents.
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