Innovative Feature by Spectee to Combat Misinformation During Disasters in Tottori Prefecture

Spectee's Response to Misinformation During Disasters

In a proactive move to combat the adverse effects of misinformation proliferated on social media during disasters, Spectee, a resilience-tech startup based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, is joining forces with Tottori Prefecture. Their joint efforts are aimed at developing a new feature that will bolster responses to fake news and false information, which have become prominent challenges in contemporary disaster management.

Background of the Initiative

Recent years have witnessed an increase in intense and frequent natural disasters, causing a surge in information on social media. Unfortunately, alongside this flow of data, there has also been a rise in misleading information—ranging from false rescue requests to images generated by AI that depict fictitious scenarios. For instance, during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, there were widespread reports of fabricated rescue signals and fundraising scams. Similarly, in 2026, fake videos were circulated that purported to show significant cracks in the Tottori Sand Dunes, further raising concerns over the authenticity of posts during such crucial moments.

In response to these escalating issues, Spectee has previously applied AI and human intervention to filter out misinformation from social media, delivering only factual updates. However, recognizing the increasing turmoil caused by fake information, they are now embarking on developing new functionalities in collaboration with Tottori Prefecture.

In November 2024, Tottori Prefecture will establish a dedicated team to tackle misinformation, taking initiative in safeguarding the informational environment for its residents. This new project aims to synergize Tottori's local knowledge with Spectee's advanced AI analysis capabilities to create a reliable information framework during disasters.

Supporting Rapid Assessments in the Field

This innovative initiative will come into play during substantial disasters, such as earthquakes registering a magnitude of 6 or higher, or when tsunami warnings are issued. When there is a substantial societal impact, posts that circulate widely but are deemed questionable will be tagged with cautionary information, outlining reasons for concerns, distributed via Spectee Pro, a real-time crisis management service.

Local governments will rely on these insights to assess on-ground situations, aiding in their alerts to residents, thereby streamlining communication during crises.

Tottori Prefecture will engage in rigorous validations based on its practical experiences, focusing on:

- Ensuring essential information is delivered to local authorities in a timely manner.
- The value of the delivered information in practical scenarios.
- Assistance rationale to underpin administrative decision-making.

Feedback from these trials will be integral in refining the service to enhance its efficacy.

The team is targeting a summer 2025 launch for this feature. This development is anticipated to facilitate national and local governments in effectively acquiring critical information and delivering timely alerts to residents during disasters, thereby ensuring enhanced public safety.

About Spectee

Founded with the mission to 'visualize crises,' Spectee harnesses AI to power its SaaS offerings in the resilience sector. By aggregating various data sources, including social media, weather data, satellite images, and vehicle probe data, the company swiftly collects and analyzes real-time information on disasters and crises worldwide. Their services have gained traction in disaster preparedness and business continuity planning, attracting over 1,000 contractual partners by July 2024, including numerous private enterprises, government agencies, and municipalities.