A YouTube channel called True Crime Case Files has garnered millions of views with a series of viral “true crime” documentaries featuring gruesome murder stories – but the crimes are entirely fictional, generated by AI.
404 Media reports that a popular YouTube channel named True Crime Case Files has been exposed for creating and sharing fake “true crime” documentaries with its audience of millions. The disturbing stories, which often involve hypersexual and violent themes, are entirely generated by AI, with no basis in reality.
The channel’s most popular video, titled “Husband’s Secret Gay Love Affair with Step Son Ends in Grisly Murder,” had nearly two million views before the channel was recently terminated by YouTube. The video, set in Littleton, Colorado, caught the attention of Elizabeth Hernandez, a reporter at the Denver Post, after her newsroom received numerous tips about the supposed crime. Upon investigation, Hernandez quickly discovered that the murder never took place and that the video was a work of AI-generated fiction.
True Crime Case Files, run by a man using the pseudonym “Paul,” posted over 150 similar AI-generated videos in the past year. The channel’s content often featured sensationalized titles such as “Sheriff Murdered After Affair With His Secretary Got Exposed” and “Wife Secret Affair with Neighbor’s Teenage Daughter Ends in Grisly Murder.” None of the videos included disclaimers about their fictional nature, leaving many viewers believing the stories were real.
In an interview, Paul defended his actions, claiming that he wanted to challenge viewers’ perceptions and make them question their fascination with the true crime genre. He argued that true crime is essentially “entertainment masquerading as news” and that his AI-generated content was no worse than the real true crime stories that exploit actual victims and their suffering.
Following inquiries from journalists, YouTube terminated True Crime Case Files and four other channels associated with Paul, citing violations of their Community Guidelines, particularly those related to child safety and the sexualization of minors. Despite this action, the problem of AI-generated true crime content persists, with numerous copycat channels emerging to fill the void left by True Crime Case Files.
Read more at 404 Media here.
Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship.
