Fox News Retracts Story After Airing Racist AI-Generated SNAP Videos

Fox News published a story based on AI-generated videos depicting fictitious SNAP beneficiaries making inflammatory statements, including threats to "ransack" stores amid a government shutdown. The videos featured scripted monologues from AI-created avatars, including racial stereotypes, which were initially presented as genuine complaints, stirring controversy and criticism over the network's failure to verify the content. After the fabrication was exposed by media watchdogs and social media users, Fox News quietly rewrote the article, altering the headline to acknowledge the videos were AI-generated and adding an editor's note without issuing a prominent retraction. The incident highlights the challenges news organizations face in detecting AI-generated misinformation and the potential for such content to inflame public bias and political narratives. Critics noted Fox News' poor editorial judgment in amplifying racially charged, false content that misrepresented vulnerable populations reliant on SNAP benefits. Following backlash, the network's corrections included removing references to on-air commentary and emphasizing the artificial nature of the videos, though some original biased assertions about SNAP recipients remained in the revised story.