BUENA VISTA COUNTY, Iowa — A sheriff’s office in northwestern Iowa issued a warning about a fake tornado image that circulated on social media last week.
As storms rolled through Western Iowa Thursday, an image of a tornado started circulating online. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office determined someone used AI to manipulate the image to show what looked like a tornado.The sheriff’s office knew it was suspicious since they had no other reports or pictures of a tornado during the storms.
An investigation found it started as a joke between friends until someone posted it on social media and it started getting shared. The sheriff’s office said this is not a crime. It is only criminal if someone reports it directly to law enforcement knowing it’s fake.
The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office said this is a reminder to verify what you see on social media before you share it.
