3 days ago
Public cautioned over AI-generated video after fake cable car clip circulates
BALING: Police have urged the public to be wary of viral advertisements and promotional content online, especially in light of a recent AI-generated video that falsely depicted a cable car connecting Pangkalan Hulu in Perak to Baling.
Acting Baling police chief Deputy Superintendent Ahmad Salimi Md Ali said no official complaints had been lodged, but the incident serves as a reminder to verify the authenticity of content circulating on social media.
"We advise the public not to fall for viral content without confirmation. In this era of AI-generated media, misleading materials can spread easily and cause confusion," he said.
He said no such cable car project exists in the district, and preliminary checks confirmed the video was entirely fabricated.
The realistic-looking video, which went viral on TikTok and Facebook, misled a retired couple from Kuala Lumpur into travelling to Baling hoping to ride the fictional cable car.
Baling District Officer Yazlan Sunardie Che Yahaya also weighed in, acknowledging that while the clip was fake, the quality was impressive.
"There's no such thing, obviously," Yazlan told the New Straits Times.
"But I have to admit, the video was very well done.
"Even though it was AI-generated, it sparked an interesting idea.
"With the terrain and scenery here, something like that might actually be possible one day."
He said that if it were real, he would be the first to line up for a ride.
Yazlan said the incident highlights the power and potential of AI content, as well as the need for media literacy among the public.
"If such videos ever cause undue panic or disruption, they could be investigated under existing laws," said Ahmad Salimi.
