SHAWANO, WI – A new social media trend involving artificial intelligence is raising concern in Shawano County, after a recent incident prompted a 911 call and an emergency response. Sheriff George Lenzner says a local youth used AI to create a realistic image of a homeless man entering a home, sending it to her parents as part of an online prank. “Like any parent would, they panicked and called 911 right away,” Lenzner said.
The sheriff says while social media challenges often surface this time of year, this one crosses the line, wasting valuable emergency resources that could be used to help those truly in need. “We prioritize our calls,” Lenzner explained. “So when a false report like this comes in, someone with a real emergency might be waiting for help.”
Lenzner is urging parents to talk with their children about digital responsibility, reminding families that even seemingly harmless pranks can have serious consequences. “Every misleading call takes deputies off the road,” he added. “And that could mean the difference in responding to an actual emergency.”
Officials say no injuries were reported, but the department hopes the incident serves as a warning to think before sharing or creating AI-generated content online.
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