Anti-immigration AI videos traced to overseas fakers, BBC finds - BBC

In May 2026, AI-generated videos depicting a dystopian image of the UK, particularly London, have been circulating online, sparking concerns about their potential impact on public opinion and the city's reputation. These videos, often portraying the UK as overrun with Islamic culture and facing decline, have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.

What happened

Several accounts have been creating AI-generated videos depicting British cities in 2050 as dirty and chaotic, with people dressed in traditional Islamic clothing. These videos often associate the portrayed decline with Muslim immigration, while some videos from the same creators present Islamic countries as idyllic in comparison. London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan believes that some of these accounts are motivated by profit, while others are backed by hostile states attempting to manipulate public opinion. The accounts often repurpose their pages from other topics to push anti-immigration narratives, and some are based overseas, making it easy for AI fakers to pose as British nationals online. Social media companies are urged to combat this misinformation by amending algorithms and labeling AI content clearly.