After China saw its Covid death toll rise, a video of a rescue robot was viewed thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claimed to show an “automatic corpse disposer” in the country. AFP traced the footage to fire safety videos from Japan that have been circulating online since 2012. The Tokyo Fire Department told AFP it shows a robot designed to assist firefighters that has not been used since 2020.
“‘Automatic corpse disposer’ has become the mainstream of the new era in China~ Chinese people are so happy! A great evolution of AI technology!!” reads a claim shared here on Facebook on January 16.
The claim was accompanied by a 53-second video, written in traditional Chinese, which appears to show medical personnel wearing protective gear helping patients on the street. Clips of a machine scooping up a person are also often seen.
Chinese narration can be heard throughout the video suggesting that the Chinese government has begun mass-producing “automatic corpse machines” amid the rising death toll.
Screenshot, taken on February 13, 2023, of the misleading post.
The claim began to spread online after China’s strict Covid-19 restrictions were suddenly lifted in early December. Chinese hospitals were overwhelmed with mostly elderly patients, crematoriums were overwhelmed, and many pharmacies ran out of fever medicine.
On January 14, Chinese authorities reported nearly 60,000 Covid-related deaths between December 8 and January 12. It was the first major toll issued by authorities since Beijing eased virus restrictions.
AFP reported that the World Health Organization accused China of underreporting the number of victims, but Chinese health officials said dwelling on the exact figure was “unnecessary”.
The same video was also shared on Twitter and Gettr along with a similar false claim.
The IS Tokyo Fire Department said the robots seen in the misleading posts reflect rescue robots once used by firefighters in Japan.
“This robot is designed to rescue people when firefighters cannot enter, for example when a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system is in place or when toxic gas is present,” the fire department said in a statement written sent to AFP on February 1.” It is not currently in force since it was discontinued in 2020.”
Robot performance
In the first five seconds of the video seen in the fake posts, it shows a machine scooping up a man in an orange suit.
A reverse image search on Google found that the corresponding video was published but mirrored here on YouTube on 22 April 2014.
The title of the video is: “Robot operation demonstration / 2014 Fire Safety and Technology Laboratory open to the public”.
“Demonstration of robot operation. It is a remote sensing device and a rescue robot. At the 2014 Firefighting Technology and Safety Laboratory Open House,” reads her report.
Below is a screenshot comparison of the video in the fake posts (left) and the YouTube video (right):
Screen comparison between the video in the fake posts (left) and the YouTube video (right).
Demonstration footage
From its 19-second mark to the 21-second mark, the video in the fake posts shows a machine with two arms wandering around inside while orange-clad individuals look on.
A reverse image search on Google found the corresponding video here on YouTube on 17 October 2014.
The title of the video is: “2014 Tokyo Fire Department Crisis Management Industry Exhibition”.
Below is a screenshot comparison of the video in the fake posts (left) and the YouTube video (right):
Screen comparison between the video in the fake posts (left) and the YouTube video (right).
The Japanese phrase “Tokyo Fire Department” is also clearly visible on the helmets of the orange-clad individuals in the video.
A screenshot, taken on February 13, 2023, of the YouTube video of the orange-covered individual’s helmet enhanced by AFP with InVid-Weverify.
At the five second mark, the video in the fake posts shows a man in a gray suit being picked up by a machine.
A reverse image search on Google found the corresponding but mirrored video published here on YouTube on 16 July 2012.
“Tri-Headquarters Fire and Safety HR/Technology Lab Open for Public Rescue Robot Demonstration,” reads the video’s title.
Her report reads: “At the open house of the fire and rescue task force of the third fire district headquarters of the Tokyo Fire Department in Shibuya ward and the Fire Safety and Technology Laboratory, a subsidiary of the Tokyo Fire Department.”
Below is a screenshot comparison of the video in the fake posts (left) and the YouTube video (right)
Screen comparison between the video in the fake posts (left) and the YouTube video (right).