A BBC investigation has traced a wave of AI-generated deepfake videos — falsely depicting urban decline across Croydon and other British cities — to a creator known as RadialB, who says the content is intended to be humorous rather than political. The videos, which have accumulated millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, portray stereotyped characters in fictitious "taxpayer-funded" facilities and have prompted racist comments and politically charged reactions, despite some carrying AI-disclosure labels. Researchers and community members say the trend is part of a broader pattern of misleading content designed to portray European and American cities as overrun with crime and immigration.

Why fake AI videos of UK urban decline are taking over social media - BBC