Content creator Benjamín López sparked controversy in Chiapa de Corso by publishing an image edited with artificial intelligence that simulated a crocodile attack at an ecotourism center. The incident took place at the Sakch’en site, located in the Nuevo San Juan Chamula community in the municipality of Las Margaritas, where ejidal authorities decided to sanction him, considering that the publication caused misinformation and fear among potential visitors. In response to the confusion, ejidal authorities detained López for approximately nine hours and imposed a fine of 5,000 pesos. They argued that this type of publication can damage the reputation of the place and reduce the flow of tourists, the main source of income for the community. After the incident, the influencer deleted the image and shared the original photograph without alterations. In addition, he posted a message on Facebook in which he acknowledged his error for not clarifying that it was humorous content. "The publication of a crocodile image created by artificial intelligence has confused many people, for not clarifying that it was a simple meme or humor and I recognize that this is wrong," he expressed. He also stated that the sanctions applied are part of his community's internal agreements and offered an apology for the events.
Influencer Fined in Chiapas for Fake Crocodile Image Using AI
A content creator in Chiapas, Mexico, was detained and fined 5,000 pesos for publishing an AI-generated image of himself allegedly fleeing from crocodiles at a popular ecotourism site. Local authorities deemed it misinformation that could deter tourists.