Cartel Propaganda Exaggerated Violence in Mexico After Killing of El Mencho

What Happened?

Following the killing of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico by Mexican security forces, an outbreak of violence, including arson and shootings, took place in several locations in Jalisco state.

While there was real violence, cartels also appear to have posted several videos online that were inauthentic to make the violence appear much worse than it was. The fake videos were shared as much or more online as real ones, creating confusion about the reality on the ground.

‘They are trying to show that the Mexican government doesn’t have control over the country,’ said Dr. Jane Esberg, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in the study of how criminal organizations use social media.

Why it Matters

Many of the videos posted by cartel linked social media accounts looked real, and that is likely due to the rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.) programs. Generative content has grown substantially in just the past year, giving anyone with access to A.I. programs the ability to create authentic looking and sounding video content for a very low cost. Cartels use social media to try to shape public opinion not only about Mexico’s government, but about themselves too.

A growing number of cartels in Mexico use social media to try to convince the public they are beneficial to communities by highlighting large donations to charity and other community-oriented assistance work.

Sometimes the donations and aid work are real, but often they are exaggerated or falsified by cartel groups to improve their reputation. By portraying themselves as community servants, cartels hope to gain the cooperation of locals throughout Mexico so they can more easily conduct their illicit activities.

Similar techniques are used by Hamas and Hezbollah in the Middle East. Both are terrorist groups that engage in organized crime to make money, but both use social media to try to persuade nearby residents that they are beneficial to local communities.

Because those groups do charity work in addition to their terrorist attacks, they have been able to convince millions of people they don’t deserve to be called terrorist groups. Cartels in Mexico appear to be hoping for a similar outcome by trying to present themselves to the public as community benefactors.

Cartels also use social media as recruiting tools, frequently undertaking efforts to recruit police and members of the military to join their ranks. Those efforts are often successful. El Mencho himself was a former police officer. Billboards along the roads in Mexico openly recruit for cartels, with some even offering medical and dental care in addition to high salaries for ex-cops or soldiers.

How it Affects You

Mexico’s government says they have identified many cartel linked, or operated, social media accounts, which they are trying to take down. But most of the content those accounts generated has been shared by ordinary users online, meaning even if they take down the source, the fake videos will continue to circulate on the internet. New A.I. technology appears to be here to stay, so it is likely criminal groups like cartels will continue to use it for nefarious purposes.