“Foreigners Started Fires”: False Information Runs Rampant Following Strong Earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan

1. Summary

Misinformation and unverified claims have spread on social media following a strong earthquake on July 28 that registered a maximum seismic intensity of 7 in Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan. There were also many posts that appeared to incite discrimination, as well as fake images believed to have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Some accused foreigners starting fires after earthquake.

2. How is this related to the sub

(1) Online disinformation & xenophobia: After a great earthquake, Japanese online space is flooded with misinformation blaming foreigners for destruction.

3. My opinion

“Koreans poisoned the well.” – infamous misinformation after 1923 Kanto earthquake which triggered a massacre of 6 thousands Koreans by Japanese population & authorities