The Conflict Between Israel, Iran Triggers Massive AI Misinformation

The internet has been flooded with misleading information since Israel launched attacks on Iran last week. Much of this content appears designed to boost Iran’s image or misrepresent the conflict’s reality. Pro-Israel accounts have also shared outdated footage from unrelated protests in Iran, suggesting that the Iranian public is turning against its government and backing Israel. 

BBC Verify reviewed dozens of posts and found that many exaggerated Iran’s military response using fake videos, some created with AI. Despite being entirely fabricated, several of these AI-generated clips racked up more than 100 million views on different platforms. 

Geoconfirmed, an organization specializing in analyzing open-source visuals, described the current volume of fake material as “shocking.” According to the organization, creators known as “engagement farmers” are using recycled or fabricated media to gain followers and profit from the attention. Examples include misused footage from Pakistan and old videos from past attacks, along with clips from video games, all falsely presented as real events from the ongoing conflict. 

Some social media accounts have gained enormous popularity almost overnight by repeatedly sharing misleading or AI-generated content. One such pro-Iran account, Daily Iran Military, doubled its followers in less than a week, from around 700,000 to 1.4 million. These profiles, often verified with blue check marks, frequently pose as credible sources even though their real operators remain unknown. 

Experts say this conflict marks the first major instance where AI has been deployed on such a wide scale to distort the narrative of war. Videos and images intended to make Iran’s attacks look more successful than they were have flooded platforms. One widely viewed image showed a barrage of missiles raining down on Tel Aviv, while another falsely portrayed an Israeli building under attack at night. 

There has also been a wave of fake content focused on Israel’s F-35 stealth fighter jets. AI-generated images have claimed several of these advanced planes were destroyed. However, experts say no authentic footage supports these claims. 

Some of these narratives are thought to be pushed by online networks previously linked to Russian disinformation efforts. Experts point out that Russian influence has shifted focus from Ukraine to undermining confidence in U.S. military equipment, particularly the F-35 jet, which Russia can’t counter effectively. By spreading these stories, the aim may be to weaken support for American-made arms in other countries. 

False content has also been shared by established social media accounts previously involved in other geopolitical debates. Analysts believe many of these users are looking to make money off the traffic generated by high-performing posts. 

Pro-Israel posts have largely centered on the idea that the Iranian government is losing support. One viral AI-generated video even claimed that Iranians were chanting pro-Israel slogans in Tehran, a scenario that experts say is entirely fictional. Meanwhile, as talk grows about U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, AI-generated images of B-2 bombers over Tehran have also begun to circulate. 

Even some state-run media in Iran and official Israeli defense channels have shared manipulated content—sometimes unknowingly—such as using unrelated old videos and AI-made images of destroyed jets. 

Much of this content circulates on X, TikTok, and Instagram. While platforms like TikTok claim to be cracking down on false information, enforcement remains inconsistent. In some cases, X’s chatbot, Grok, has mistakenly confirmed fake videos as real, adding to the confusion. For example, one video showing endless missile trucks emerging from a mountainside was fake—rocks moved on their own—but Grok cited mainstream news sources and called it authentic. 

While some fake content is pushed by organized actors, a large part of its spread comes from ordinary users who quickly share posts that match their beliefs. Social media researcher Matthew Facciani points out that emotionally charged, politically divisive content tends to spread faster online. In times of conflict, he says, people are especially prone to reshare content that reinforces their side, even if it’s not true. 

For companies like Thumzup Media Corp. (NASDAQ: TZUP) that specialize in marketing brands by leveraging AI use on social media, the growing misinformation driven by AI tools could be a big concern since it detracts from the productive use of this technology. 

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