Tech-Driven Misinformation Skews Iran–Israel Conflict Narratives

     AI‑generated war footage is swirling online after Iran’s missile strike, fuelling misinformation.

Tech-Driven Misinformation Skews Iran–Israel Conflict Narratives

​​By M Muzamil Shami - June 21, 2025

Tech-Driven Misinformation Skews Iran–Israel Conflict Narratives

In the digital echo chambers of global conflict, AI‑generated misinformation is emerging as a dangerous front line. As Israel and Iran exchange strikes over nuclear facilities, the online space is flooded with deepfakes, repurposed warfare footage, and false chatbot narratives, blurring the line between reality and fabrication.

Viral Deepfake Videos Stir Panic

Following Iran’s missile and drone assault on Israel last week, viral videos allegedly depicting damage to Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport circulated on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fact‑checkers at AFP traced these clips back to a TikTok account that produces AI‑generated content, debunking them as fabrications

These clips are not isolated incidents. According to Deutsche Welle, old footage—such as U.S. bombings of Baghdad in 2003—has been relabeled as current Iran–Israel strikes, racking up millions of views 

AI Generators Power ‘Photo‑Realistic’ Fabrications

Security firm GetReal Security identified numerous videos fabricating war scenes—showing ruined aircraft and missile launches—generated via Google’s new Veo 3 AI tool. While Veo 3 embeds a watermark, it can be easily removed, and experts warn the ultra-realistic quality could devastate public trust

Hany Farid, co‑founder of GetReal and professor at UC Berkeley, emphasizes that these photo‑realistic deepfakes are being leveraged to manipulate global narrative. He notes that many of the clips are around eight seconds long—a red flag prompting users to fact-check thoroughly 

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Chatbots and State Media Fuel Disinformation

It’s not just social posts. Reports show 51 websites pushing fabricated claims—including fake images of mass destruction in Tel Aviv and false accounts of Iranian forces capturing Israeli pilots. Some originate from military-linked Iranian Telegram channels and state-affiliated media .

Adding to the digital confusion, chatbots like xAI’s Grok have misidentified manipulated visuals as real, reinforcing false narratives. According to Ken Jon Miyachi of BitMindAI, this technological misuse is “manipulating public perception … with unprecedented scale and sophistication.”

Misinformation: A Weapon in Information Warfare

Research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) found that during April’s escalation, 34 misleading posts—including AI-generated and repurposed footage—amassed over 37 million views in just seven hours. Many came from verified X accounts, gaining algorithmic amplification

ISD warns that misinformation is being weaponized to fuel public confusion, worsen geopolitical tensions, and erode trust in media and institutions .

Urgent Need for Detection & Digital Literacy

Experts say existing safeguards have failed—content moderation has been scaled back and fact-checking teams have been defunded. Platforms now depend heavily on flawed AI tools with minimal human oversight .

Journalists urge:

1. Development of strong AI detection tools (e.g., Veo watermark checkers, reverse image search).

2. Investment in fact‑checking teams for rapid verification.

3. Promotion of media literacy among users to question suspicious visuals.

4. Enforcement of platform accountability and regulation to curb misinformation spread 

FAQs

1. What is generative AI misinformation?
Fabricated content—videos, images, chat text—created by AI, designed to mislead viewers into believing fake events.

2. What clips have been debunked?
Examples:

1. Baghdad bombings in 2003 relabeled as Iran–Israel conflict.

2. Apocalyptic scenes and missile attacks generated by Veo 3.

3. Video games (e.g., Arma 3) passed off as real events.

3. Why are verified accounts pushing false content?
Many are paid subscribers (e.g., X’s blue tick) whose posts gain algorithmic reach and monetization, incentivizing sensational misinformation.

4. How does misinformation spread so fast?
AI tools turbocharge content creation; algorithms amplify engagement, and users often share emotionally charged visuals without verification.

5. How can you spot an AI-generated war video?
Look for tell-tale signs: consistent watermark like “Veo”, ~8-second loops, blurry hand/body details, digital artifacting—and always reverse-image search the clip.

6. Why is this misinformation dangerous?
It can spark panic, distort public opinion, inflame tensions, and pressure leaders based on false premises—subverting democratic discourse.

7. Are platforms doing enough to fight it?
Not yet. Many have reduced moderation, leaned on imperfect AI systems, and rely on community flags—ineffective during fast-evolving crises.

8. What steps are experts urging?
They call for more AI-powered detection tools, increased funding for human fact-checkers, improved media literacy programs, and stronger regulation to hold platforms accountable.

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Have you spotted AI‑generated clips about the conflict? Share your experiences and help us debunk in the comments.