The fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, by a federal agent in Minneapolis on January 7 has led to a surge of misinformation and AI-generated content online. As the investigation unfolds, several fake images and videos have circulated widely across social media platforms.
Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell highlighted how AI-generated images that claim to reveal the face of the masked agent involved are misleading. “AI tools have no idea what the agent’s face actually looks like, and they are just making a guess,” Harwell explained. He also noted another fabricated image showing the agent speaking with Good before the shooting.
“People pass along crap like this on social media hours after a news event all the time,” Harwell said. “It makes it so much harder for people to understand what’s going on.”
Another widely shared AI-generated image depicted an extensive protest in downtown Minneapolis at dusk, featuring U.S. Bank Stadium in the background. However, inaccuracies such as non-existent buildings and illegible text on protest signs suggest its artificial origin. In reality, while thousands attended a vigil for Good near where she was shot and later marched to Lake Street in south Minneapolis, there was no large-scale protest downtown at sunset.
Shortly after Good was identified as the victim, an image began circulating online purporting to show her. The photo actually originated from a 2020 Facebook post by Old Dominion University’s English Department announcing poetry prize winners; however, it depicted not Good but a runner-up from that contest.
In response to these incidents of misinformation, experts advise caution when sharing dramatic or emotional content during breaking news events. Verifying sources is crucial: reputable news organizations are more reliable than random social media accounts. AI-generated images often contain telltale errors such as misspelled words or distorted objects.
Observers should also consider whether videos appear unusually cinematic—an indicator they may be artificially generated rather than captured by eyewitnesses using cellphones.
For those seeking guidance on responsible information sharing during unfolding events, OnTheMedia.org offers a Breaking News Consumer’s Handbook with practical tips focused on skepticism and verifying original sources before sharing material online.
