The level of fake videos about the Iran war is exponentially increasing and being disseminated on multiple social media platforms. Misleading videos and manipulated videos have spread rapidly and successfully since the war started last weekend. Analysts seem to believe that state-linked propaganda military videos have begun to resurface. These videos try to shape the narrative on the “military victories” and “death counts.
One of the misleading videos went viral claiming to show the bombing of a skyscraper in Bahrain. However, researchers claim that the video is completely fake, and that it was generated using a computer. Elements malfunction like cars merging and the limbs of people in the video distorted; therefore, the video is fake. These misleading videos about the Iran war encourage the hopes of the governement of the Iran of the given situation.
How State Actors Mislead and Distract
State-linked actors send out videos on purpose for certain targeted videos. These types of videos, according to Melanie Smith of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, attmept to video document and support specific geopolitical state sponsored narratives. Pro Iran channels on social media platforms document, record, and video the destruction of buildings in the surrounding areas to support military presence. These videos document and are backed by state media reports to support and document case.
Other networks, like Russia-aligned “Operation Overload,” employ different strategies. They produce videos that impersonate intelligence agencies or news agencies. They made a fake video that warned people in the United States and Germany to stay in their houses. These strategies are intended to erode the public’s safety and alter their behavior.
AI and Censorship Adding to the Information Vacuum
AI has made the creation and dissemination of false visual information about the Iran war much simpler. Previous conflicts relied on public footage to inform the world. However, in this instance, Iranian censorship and internet blackouts have left a gaping information void. Absent information sent by citizens in real-time, disinformation and fake content will fill the void.
Users looking to capture clicks from the chaos also contribute to the problem. They will often post footage from other conflicts, and other war footage, and even footage from video games. This creates what has been termed a “polluted” information environment where credible information is almost impossible to locate. Experts have expressed concern that for those attempting to locate the truth, the amount of AI-generated content is reaching a disturbing level.
Social Media Platforms as the New Frontline
Social media has evolved into an extension of the physical battle space. Atlantic Council Emerson Brooking says the users are the assets of state actors. The users’ attention and “eyeballs” are valuable for the spread of propaganda. In response, X has begun suspending users for posting AI content from battlegrounds.
If it’s the user’s first Community Guidelines violation, X suspends revenue-sharing monetization for 90 days. Repeat offenders get permanent bans. X claims to still be fighting “visual misinformation” regarding the Iran War. X asks users to verify a video’s authenticity prior to posting.
The first casualty of war, in a digital conflict, is the truth.
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