Following the death of powerful Mexican narcotrafficker Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a wave of violence erupted across 20 states in Mexico, accompanied by a surge of disinformation. Gunmen retaliated by burning vehicles and blockading roads, while AI-generated fake images circulated extensively on social media, with some being shared over 38,500 times.
One prominent false image showed Puerto Vallarta ablaze, exaggerating the actual damage. Analysts, including journalist Alberto Escorcia, identified groups linked to the CJNG as key players in disseminating this misinformation to “magnify the chaos.” Additionally, opportunistic accounts are using the turmoil to promote various political narratives.
Mexico’s security secretary, Omar Garcia Harfuch, indicated that numerous social media accounts are engaged in spreading disinformation linked to the CJNG operation. There have also been expressions of sympathy for Oseguera, with researchers noting significant admiration for the drug lord on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, as well as over 100 TikTok accounts dedicated to recruitment and propaganda for the CJNG. The cartel has been notably effective in using these platforms to recruit new members, prompting scrutiny and action from authorities.
