Authorities warn of legal risks as ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend spreads

CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) -- Some El Paso County institutions said they're aware of a social media trend that could be depicted as a threat.

The "Cat in the Hat" trend involves artificial intelligence (AI) pictures and videos of the Dr. Seuss character. Some videos appear to show people wearing a costume of the character.

Some videos use the character's likeness to say it's going to appear in certain cities in a menacing manner.

Thursday, the Horizon City Police Department said there's no credible threat to Horizon City schools associated with the trend. However, it said the posts can "create unnecessary fear, disrupt school operations, and require significant law enforcement resources to investigate."

HCPD said if you see a post that references a specific school, person, weapon or act of violence, don't assume it's part of the hoax. It also said to screenshot the information and report it to law enforcement or school officials.

The Canutillo Independent School District said the trend could lead to legal consequences. The district posted the following statement to its social media:

"We want to reassure our families and community that we are not aware of any credible or specific threat directed toward any Canutillo ISD campus or the Canutillo community.

We are working closely with state and federal law enforcement agencies, who have indicated that the trend appears to be a hoax involving AI-generated images and videos. At this time, law enforcement has found no evidence that the activity depicted in these posts is actually occurring.

We urge parents to talk with students about the serious consequences of creating or sharing threats of violence involving schools. Threats are not jokes or harmless pranks. Depending on the circumstances, making or sharing a threat can carry serious legal consequences, including substantial fines and potential jail time.

If you see a social media post specifically referencing Canutillo ISD, one of our campuses or our community, please do not share or repost it. Instead, report it to Canutillo ISD at 915-877-6650 so we can evaluate the information and take appropriate action.

Thank you for helping us keep our students, staff and community safe."

ABC-7 spoke with El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez about the impact of the trend for local schools.

"This is something that has not escalated," Sanchez said. "It is not something to be fearful of, but just something to be aware of."

Sanchez warned that the trend could become a criminal liability if someone reasonably believes there is an ongoing threat.

For example, if a post following the "Cat in the Hat" trend mentions or appears to be near a school, it could prompt a law enforcement response, including a lockdown.

"Those are penal code violations, criminal violations, that carry with it some significant consequences," she said.

Sanchez said to report any posts that present a safety concern.

"What you should be thoughtful about is sharing posts through the internet if it shows something that could necessarily elicit a fearful response from other young people," Sanchez said.