10 years since Kumamoto Earthquake: False information during disasters can be life-threatening

Editorial

17:16 JST, April 15, 2026

The spread of serious cases of misinformation via social media was a major problem in the aftermath of the Kumamoto Earthquake. False information spreading during disasters hinders rescue efforts and could cause lives to be lost that would otherwise have been saved. The government and businesses must strengthen their countermeasures.

Ten years have passed since the Kumamoto Earthquake. Two tremors measuring a maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale — the first time this has happened on record — claimed lives of 278 people, including those who died of disaster-related causes. The number of damaged homes reached 207,000.

While roads and bridges have already been restored, restoration work on Kumamoto Castle — where the main keep and stone walls sustained significant damage — is expected to continue until fiscal 2052.

Many people no doubt remember the misinformation spread at that time.

In one incident, a fake image of a lion roaming the streets was posted on Twitter, now called X, claiming that “A lion has escaped from the zoo because of the earthquakes.” False information claiming that “a major earthquake would strike within two hours” caused some people to evacuate.

Misinformation amplifies the fear of people already shaken by a major earthquake. It also risks disrupting the operations of the Self-Defense Forces, police and fire departments involved in rescue efforts. It is absolutely unacceptable.

The spread of misinformation has occurred during subsequent disasters. In the aftermath of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, false information spread that cited a real address to call for a rescue and caused problems for the police.

When an earthquake with an intensity of upper 5 hit Tottori Prefecture in January, a fake video was spread claiming that cracks had appeared in the Tottori Sand Dunes. The spread of generative artificial intelligence has made it easy to create videos indistinguishable from the real thing, making the situation even more serious.

Social media is useful during such occasions as it can be used to quickly let the public know about communities isolated by landslides and help people call rescue services. However, the inclusion of false information would make it impossible to tell what is true, and even legitimate emergency calls may fail to reach the authorities.

The companies that operate social media are responsible for preventing the spread of misinformation. They should utilize AI to strengthen monitoring and establish systems to remove such content promptly.

The Information Distribution Platform Law, which obligates major social media operators to respond swiftly to requests to remove unwanted content such as defamation, came into effect in 2025. Similar legal regulations should be considered against misinformation during disasters.

Perhaps the government and municipalities can begin initiatives to post corrective information on social media instantly when they detect malicious misinformation that could endanger lives or damage critical infrastructure.

Some people post such content in good faith, believing the false information to be true. It is best to stop and verify the source before sharing information.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15, 2026)