A missing persons expert has cautioned people about sharing misinformation, as Facebook’s AI search engine provides some users with incorrect information about a boy missing in South Australia’s mid-north.
Four-year-old Gus was last seen playing in sand on his family’s outback homestead on Saturday September 27 around 5pm.
Despite a police search which focused on ground, water and air resources, and was supported by the Australian Defence Force, few clues beyond a footprint were found.
The extensive operation to find the boy was scaled back after nearly a week of searching on Friday, but SA Police have said inquiries would continue.
However, information about the case on Facebook’s Meta AI search feature has revealed multiple factual errors.
The ABC undertook several searches on Facebook’s AI search engine, with various results.
One result referred to a website which read Gus was “found alive after a massive search operation in the South Australian outback”.
Some responses provided by Meta’s AI incorrectly said that the four-year-old boy was found alive. (Facebook)
Another search showed a result referring to the most recent information provided on SAPOL’s website and an online news article, detailing that Gus remained missing despite an extensive search effort.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said the public should go to official websites or social media pages for reliable and accurate information relating to missing persons, investigations or emergency events.
“Police urge caution when using artificial intelligence in internet searches and recommend cross-referencing the information with trusted sources,” they said.
Meta has been contacted by ABC News for comment.
An AI Facebook response which correctly details that Gus remains missing despite an extensive search. (Facebook)
Technology changing
Sarah Wayland is an expert in missing persons and said developing technology played a role in compounding trauma for families and loved ones of missing persons.
“Every time I feel like we get a handle on the role of technology and missing persons stories, something new happens,” she said.
Dr Wayland said AI on social media was “almost creating an additional echo chamber”.
“It’s adding a whole new dimension, on top of [media] stories, where that information is not accurate and it’s based on not just the media reporting, but also the harvesting of social media comments,” she said.
“It’s a whole other layer that families have to be concerned about.”
Dr Wayland says AI is an emerging type of technology which could be adding to the trauma of having someone missing. (Supplied: Sarah Wayland)
She said it was easy for people to believe AI generated content as factual.
Why the search for a missing 4yo in SA’s outback was so challenging
“It’s very easy to fall into that trap of thinking, ‘oh, here’s an update on a case’, that is not necessarily fact-based information or information that’s been shared by the police,” she said.
But Dr Wayland said social media could have a role to play in solving missing persons cases, but cautioned people to take a trauma-informed approach and remember the people involved.
“We can both challenge ourselves to be almost like armchair sleuths, to get involved in missing persons stories because we all want good outcomes in the end,” she said.
“But we need to question where is this information coming from and is this the most accurate information at this stage,” she said.
“If we can’t verify that, then maybe pause, rather than commenting.”