SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Scrolling through platforms like TikTok, it\u2019s easy to find dozens of AI-generated prank videos. While that content generates thousands of clicks, law enforcement warns it isn\u2019t just deceptive \u2014 it can be criminal.<\/p>\n
This week, the Seminole County Sheriff\u2019s Office announced a man was arrested on multiple charges after he reportedly showed an AI-generated video to a deputy and falsely reported a crime. <\/p>\n
An edited video, which was posted publicly on social media, shows a man approaching the deputy while inside a sports store, and claiming to have video of multiple people breaking into the deputy\u2019s patrol car.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir? I saw these guys; they were going inside of your car. In and out,\u201d the man says in the video.<\/p>\n
[WATCH: Elon Musk deepfake scam costs Florida couple thousands of dollars]<\/p>\n
The deputy\u2019s reaction was real, but investigators say the video was fabricated. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you probably just left it unlocked,\u201d the man can be heard saying to the deputy as he checks for anything that had possibly been stolen or disturbed. <\/p>\n
The alleged prankster, Alexis Martinez-Arizala, is facing charges including fabricating evidence \u2014 a felony.<\/p>\n
Same suspect, different county<\/p>\n
West Palm Beach Police Department Captain Roy Bevell says officers in his city encountered the same suspect late last year. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a couple of incidents at a local Home Depot where he was approaching people in the aisles,\u201d said Bevell. <\/p>\n
Bevell described one of the AI-generated videos that appeared to show a customer\u2019s husband with another woman. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was almost like the old-fashioned Candid Camera type of thing. But it wasn\u2019t funny,\u201d said Captain Bevell.<\/p>\n
Bevell said the use of AI in this way is concerning, and it can be criminal if you cross the line. <\/p>\n
[WATCH: AI tech makes it easier for scammers to sneak into your inbox]<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do understand that if you\u2019re in a public space, you can record people. They have that First Amendment right,\u201d said Bevell. \u201cThey\u2019re not demanding any type of money or causing a police response, which is what would make it criminal. So, it kind of limits us a little bit. But just the fact that they\u2019re approaching people and creating a moment of chaos for them is not good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bevell said AI pranks like the ones officers witnessed in West Palm Beach are done for clicks and views online. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe do understand they have the right to do these things. However, if they start interfering with law enforcement, that could be a real problem,\u201d said Bevell. <\/p>\n
AI raises the stakes<\/p>\n
Creating illusions with a camera and some editing isn\u2019t new. But police say artificial intelligence \u2014 now accessible on virtually every smartphone \u2014 creates a new set of challenges.<\/p>\n
The Seminole County sheriff has called the misuse of artificial intelligence a \u201cgrowing concern.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe misuse of artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos is a growing concern, particularly when it targets public safety professionals,\u201d said Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma. \u201cThese fabricated videos can damage reputations, create unnecessary tensions, and raise real safety concerns for the first responders who serve our communities. As this technology becomes more accessible, we take these types of crimes seriously and will take action to protect those who are targeted in our community, including both private citizens and the public safety professionals who work every day to keep our residents safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office also shared a message online this week, warning residents that this trend can carry serious legal consequences.<\/p>\n
Bevell is urging the public to report any similar activity, even if it doesn\u2019t appear serious at first.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you see these types of activities, call us. At a minimum, we want to document who these people are, what they\u2019re doing. So, we do have a record of them. Our biggest fear is that one of these things turns into what could be a crime,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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