As food assistance continues to be disrupted during the government shutdown, Fox News is being called out for spreading disinformation.

A video generated by artificial intelligence, claiming to portray a disgruntled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits recipient, apparently tricked a Fox journalist, who initially reported on the video as authentic before the story was altered to reflect the clip’s truth.

Fox appears to fall for AI-generated videos before editing the story

CNN journalist Andrew Kaczynski posted about the change on X, formerly Twitter, sharing screenshots of the article’s headline before and after the change.

The original headline read “SNAP beneficiaries threaten to ransack stores over government shutdown,” with a sub-heading reading “One mother claims taxpayers must feed her children as SNAP benefits face cuts.”

The new version states, “AI videos of SNAP beneficiaries complaining about cuts go viral,” with a subheading that removes the “mother” reference and says “SNAP benefits ended on November 1 due to shutdown.”

The past-tense reference to Nov. 1 also indicates that the article has been edited despite still bearing the original publication date of Oct. 31.

Fox denigrates SNAP recipients with AI-generated video

Kaczynski’s post quoted MSNBC analyst Tim Miller, who commented on the original version of the Fox News story before the edits.

“Fox News ran an article about a woman who posted on TikTok about how she has 7 baby daddies and needs her SNAPs. Interesting news judgment,” Miller said. He also posted a screenshot from the original article, discussing a woman lamenting that “because of the government shutdown, now I can’t get my SNAPs for next month” and complaining that “I have seven different baby daddies and none of ’em no good for me.” The story also includes a reaction from Fox News commentator Brett Cooper, who, treating the video as real, calls it “insane” and chides the fake mother for being irresponsible.

Social media warned of AI content before the Fox story was published

The current version of the Fox News article acknowledges that this video is AI-generated. The article also references another AI-generated video of a woman saying, “It is the taxpayers’ responsibility to take care of my kids,” and imploring her TikTok followers to send her money, and a third AI-generated video of a woman threatening to shoplift groceries. The article ends with an editor’s note stating, “This article previously reported on some videos that appear to have been generated by AI without noting that. This has been corrected.” The error came, although videos like the ones featured in the initial reporting had already been called out as fake and racist for days before the Fox News story was published.

While Fox News eventually updated its story, it appears to be downplaying the significant journalistic errors that resulted in the article being published in the first place. By platforming fake content, the network promoted racist stereotypes that have long fueled debates over public assistance for years and continue to do so today.

The post Fox News Called Out For Reporting On AI Video Of Black Woman With ‘7 Different Baby Daddies’ Complaining Of SNAP Cuts appeared first on Blavity.

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