Ghost Hoax in West Bandung: AI-Generated Video by Five Teens Causes Panic

Ghost terror in Padalarang and Ngamprah districts had unsettled residents in recent days, with circulating videos showing a pocong (traditional Indonesian ghost) knocking on windows and doors of homes. Police investigated and confirmed the alarming footage was an AI-generated hoax created by five teenagers from Ngamprah, West Bandung. Cimahi Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit Chief, AKP Teguh Kumara, stated: ‘We can confirm this terror is a hoax, created using AI by five teenagers. We have taken statements from the five Ngamprah youths.’ He explained the motive was a practical joke targeting one of their parents, but due to parental concern, the images were shared further. ‘Their intention was to prank and seek attention, targeting their own parents. However, because the parents were worried, the photos and videos were redistributed among relatives, eventually spreading widely with misleading and alarming narratives,’ Kumara added.