The death of CJNG leader “El Mencho” in a federal security operation in Tapalpa triggered a wave of violence across Jalisco on Sunday, with social media playing a crucial role in alerting citizens to the chaos unfolding on the streets.
Drivers passing by burning buses, vehicles, stores and gas stations captured the scenes on their phones and immediately posted them to Instagram and other platforms.
Some even filmed gunmen forcing drivers and passengers from their cars and setting the vehicles ablaze. Hundreds of images surfaced as criminals rampaged through Guadalajara and other parts of the state in a coordinated bid to sow terror among the population.
Conversely, social media also added to the confusion, with multiple uncorroborated postings and fake news, including AI-generated images that fooled gullible citizens. One, in particular, of a plane burning on the Guadalajara Airport tarmac, was widely circulated and added to the panic that briefly consumed the facility before order was restored.
In addition, the prevalence of more surveillance cameras in Guadalajara contributed to the stack of imagery authorities can use to try and identify the perpetrators. This may prove problematic, however, since nearly all the gunmen carrying out the violent acts were wearing masks.
