Urgent Alert: Phony AI Content Exploits Baseball Playoffs
URGENT UPDATE: Baseball fans are currently facing a surge of deceptive AI-generated content on Facebook, as a clickbait network based in Southeast Asia exploits the high interest surrounding the MLB playoffs leading up to the World Series. An investigation by AFP has uncovered this alarming trend, where fan pages masquerading as genuine accounts—such as “Dodgers Dynasty” and “Yankee Nation”—are drawing in followers with misleading articles and advertisements.
These pages have collectively amassed 248,000 followers and are linked to websites filled with ads and AI-generated articles designed solely to generate clicks and profits for their creators. “The goal of pages and operations like this is to earn money,” says journalist Craig Silverman, highlighting the manipulative tactics behind this operation.
Experts warn that these strategies can lead to the growth of user accounts that may later be sold or repurposed for disinformation campaigns. Some posts, including false claims about U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly increasing ticket prices for games featuring the Toronto Blue Jays, illustrate how misinformation can elicit outrage and engagement.
Among the most misleading content are seemingly innocent posts, such as an AI-generated image of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani with puppies, claiming he built a $5 million dog sanctuary. Another misleading post celebrates Ohtani for tipping generously on a modest check, a story that has also been attributed to other athletes like Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
“Scammers are learning to be better storytellers,” warns Luke Arrigoni, founder of an AI reputation protection tool. He emphasizes that AI is enabling the creation of more believable narratives. In response to AFP’s findings, Meta has stated, “We are investigating the pages and admins in question and will take action against any that violate our policies.”
The pages in question, primarily managed from Vietnam, present U.S. phone numbers and addresses that lead to unrelated entities, including a motel and a physician’s office. This disconnection highlights the sophisticated nature of this clickbait network. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue has previously reported that these operations generate significant revenue relative to average incomes in Vietnam.
As MLB playoffs continue, engagement with such deceptive pages is likely to rise. While individual posts may not seem alarming, Silverman warns that the rapid scalability of AI tools could facilitate the spread of more divisive content, including false narratives surrounding sensitive issues.
The investigation has shown that this phenomenon is not isolated to English-language content; fake news targeting sports fans exists in multiple languages. Notably, AFP has also debunked similar falsehoods in other sports, including tennis and Formula One.
As users continue to engage with these misleading accounts, it raises concerns about the potential for misinformation to build a larger foothold online. Without effective moderation, these deceptive networks could continue to proliferate, further complicating the information landscape surrounding sports and current events.
With the MLB playoffs drawing in millions of viewers, the urgency for fans to verify sources has never been greater. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious content as investigations continue. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
