The article examines the rise of AI-assisted or AI-generated websites that publish misleading or entirely false news stories about public figures and events in Western Australia.

It focuses on platforms such as “Luxury Blog” and the Facebook page “Voice of Aus”, which have circulated fabricated stories involving well-known individuals, including claims about a shark attack victim allegedly speaking to his wife before an incident, and false allegations about Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce refusing to participate in Pride-related initiatives.

These stories often appear convincing at first glance, using familiar names, emotionally charged language, and sensational framing to attract attention and engagement on social media.

Experts in digital media warn that these sites are part of a broader trend sometimes referred to as “pink-slime” journalism, where content is mass-produced or generated using AI tools, sometimes by scraping and rewriting legitimate news, and other times by inventing stories outright.The primary motivation is not journalistic accuracy but revenue generation through advertising and viral distribution.Even when users do not click on ads, page views and engagement can still generate income for operators.

The article also highlights how misinformation spreads rapidly through platforms like Facebook, where users may share or comment on posts without verifying their authenticity.This can lead to real-world confusion, with some people believing false claims about public figures.Political figures and sports personalities are frequent targets of these fabricated narratives.

Media experts stress that sensational headlines, emotional hooks, and the use of recognisable names are key tactics used to build credibility and drive engagement, despite the content being false or misleading.