Spanish authorities debunk viral clown hoax rumors

Authorities in Spain have debunked viral social media rumors regarding the presence of a person dressed as a clown intended to frighten residents. In Salamanca and its surrounding areas, including Cabrerizos, Santa Marta de Tormes, and Villares de la Reina, reports circulated via instant messaging and TikTok claiming an individual was targeting women and minors. The Guardia Civil and local municipal police confirmed that no such reports or complaints have been filed, labeling the claims as a hoax.

A similar phenomenon occurred in Rivas, where social media users shared images of a supposed clown roaming streets at night. Following an investigation, the Guardia Civil and local police determined these were false alarms. Authorities noted that security camera footage showed no such individual at the locations and times specified.

Investigators highlighted that the images circulating online may have been generated using artificial intelligence. Some photos contained digital watermarks from SynthID, an AI identification technology, and exhibited visual inconsistencies such as deformed vehicles and irregular street lighting, suggesting the content was synthetic rather than real.