A rumor that circulated online in alleged newscast videos in September 2025 claimed criminals were using syringes to inject HIV-infected blood into toilet paper rolls at supermarkets and public restrooms. The matter led users to search the internet for "HIV toilet paper," "toilet paper contamination" and "toilet paper news."
For example, on Sept. 2, a user managing the Newsinforium Facebook page (archived) posted the first of seven "breaking news" videos promoting this rumor. In less than 48 hours, the videos collectively received over 5.7 million views, 41,000 likes and 61,000 shares. Three videos displayed the onscreen caption, "Criminals in the United States are infecting toilet paper in public restrooms," while the remaining four clips included text reading, "A new form of terror is silently spreading through supermarkets and public restrooms" (archived video posts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7).
(Newsinforium/Facebook)
All seven videos featured similar voice narration and the same text caption, which began:
Public Restroom Alert: Toilet Paper Contamination Sparks Health Concerns Across U.S. A wave of disturbing reports has surfaced across social media and news outlets, warning that some public restroom toilet paper rolls may be contaminated — not by design, but through reckless behavior by drug users.
The complete narration transcript is available later in this article.
Users shared this rumor in other posts on Facebook, Instagram (archived), Threads (archived), TikTok (archived), X (archived) and YouTube.
However, searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no news media outlets reporting about criminals using syringes to inject HIV-infected blood into toilet paper. Similar searches also located no outlets publishing information similar to the headline appearing in Newsinforium's video posts. Prominent outlets would have widely reported this rumor if true, due to consumer interest and its alarming nature.
Rather, this rumor originated as one of a countless number of entirely fabricated claims, primarily fueled by videos posted to social media featuring a mixture of fake visuals and stock video clips, as well as inauthentic audio narration. One or more users created the videos' visuals, voice narration and possibly the script, as well as Newsinforium's text description, with artificial-intelligence (AI) tools. The supposed newscasts shown in the clips did not display any branding or network affiliation, since they were not real news reports.
Snopes contacted a Newsinforium Facebook page manager to ask several questions. That user, who did not self-identify, said the account first found the videos elsewhere and simply reposted them. That interview appears later in this article.
Searches for more information about the possibility of spreading HIV via toilet paper found a Forbes article discussing the history of the rumor and casting doubt on the idea that the virus could spread in such a way. Healthline also previously reported about the claim that people can transmit HIV through blood or urine on a toilet seat and called it a "myth."
Signs of fakery and fiction
One of the clear signs that the videos were the products of AI was the high angle of footage allegedly showing public restrooms that appeared in many of the fake newscasts, which suggested the footage came from security cameras — which are not commonly placed in real restrooms due to privacy standards.
Also, at least one shot of toilet paper packaging displayed illegible text, while another shot early in one of the videos showed a man wearing a hoodie with an unusual nose. Illegible text and deformed-looking features can be signs of AI-generated images and videos.
The videos featured shots of police officers blocking public restrooms and a patient in a hospital bed, as well as supposed members of the press listening to a public official speaking from a lectern. But, as we previously mentioned, we found no credible published reports about any such HIV-infected toilet paper crimes.
The Newsinforium Facebook page's text descriptions also displayed signs they, or someone else, generated the text using AI. For example, the text included emojis, hashtags and bullet points in a format similar to how some AI tools prefer to generate text descriptions for videos. (We previously wrote about some other signs to look out for that show a video might be AI-generated.)
Looking for the source, Newsinforium interview
The Newsinforium Facebook page's "Page transparency" tab listed one manager as residing in Cameroon. Reached via Messenger, that page manager reported first finding the videos — the ones the page reposted seven times — on TikTok. The user also didn't recall the account where the videos originated.
A Threads repost of the video displayed a watermark for a TikTok user's handle. A search for that TikTok user's page found the displayed message, "Couldn't find this account," indicating the user or TikTok removed the account. Meanwhile, an X post attempting to debunk the toilet paper rumor reposted a TikTok video from a different user. However, as of Sept. 4, that user's account no longer displayed the video. It's possible that the Newsinforium user found the original video on one of these two accounts or another TikTok account.
In our discussion with the Newsinforium page manager, the person said the account would perform "deeper research" in the future before potentially sharing false information. We also asked about the mention of Cameroon on the "Page transparency" tab, to learn more about their page. At that point, the user asked us if we were a "bot" and said the country information was "wrong," then ended the conversation.
Searches for further posts about the toilet paper contamination rumor found a TikTok video claiming, "Two ladies have been spotted in London going around public toilets and injecting HIV into toilet paper." The clip also said "thousands of people have been infected" — a massive crisis that major outlets would have reported, if true. That TikTok account's page also displayed many other false or unfounded rumors.
Full video narration transcript
The AI-generated voice narrator in the videos promoting the toilet paper contamination rumor instructed users to share the clips with their own social media networks, saying, "If you don't share it, you will be complicit in the next victim. Your inaction will allow this terror to continue. Act now or regret it forever."
Social media posts often receive more likes than shares, and that part of the clips potentially caused users to share the Newsinforium videos more than they liked them. The full script transpired as follows:
Breaking news. Criminals are using syringes infected with AIDS to contaminate toilet paper. Pay attention.
A new form of terror silently spreading through supermarkets and public restrooms. Internal police sources who requested anonymity confirmed an investigation into a wave of attacks. Cowardly criminals are injecting HIV-infected blood into toilet paper rolls, turning an act of hygiene into a deadly game of Russian roulette. This is not a rumor; it is a diabolical plan to cause panic and spread disease.
Investigations reveal that after the injection, the syringes are removed, leaving the paper seemingly intact but deadly contaminated. The danger is invisible. The threat is silent.
Laboratory analyses of seized rolls have confirmed the presence of the virus, and there are already reports of victims in hospitals with unexplained infections.
The goal is to create chaos and fear, making no one feel safe anywhere. The process requires careful visual inspection of each roll before use and immediate notification to the authorities if anything suspicious is found. Your life, your family's life... everyone's safety depends on this video being shared now. If you don't share it, you will be complicit in the next victim. Your inaction will allow this terror to continue. Act now or regret it forever.
For further reading, we previously reported about some of the history of "scarelore" — stories existing as urban legends or fictional tales that frighten audiences, often prompting readers to share them without questioning whether they are true.