What's happened
On October 31, 2024, thousands gathered in Dublin for a Halloween parade that never occurred, misled by an AI-generated listing on MySpiritHalloween.com. The local police had to disperse the crowd after confirming no event was scheduled. The website's owner claimed it was an unintentional mistake.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, Nazir Ali, the website's owner, stated, "It was our mistake and we should have double checked it to make sure it was happening." The Independent reported that the Gardaí had to intervene, advising crowds to disperse safely. The New York Times noted that the website used AI to generate content, which contributed to the confusion. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the spread of misinformation, as highlighted by various social media reactions.
How we got here
The incident stemmed from a listing on MySpiritHalloween.com, which falsely advertised a Halloween parade featuring giant puppets by the theatre group Macnas. The event was promoted widely online, leading to significant public interest despite no official confirmation.
More on these topics
-
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland. Situated on a bay on the east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey, it lies within the province of Leinster. It is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range.
-
Halloween or Hallowe'en, also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day.