Generative AI reshapes Israel-Iran war narratives: first large-scale digital disinformation campaign

As military tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, a new front has emerged in the form of a large-scale digital disinformation campaign powered by generative AI.

This 2soft war2 is reshaping global perceptions of the conflict, with fabricated images and videos flooding social media platforms. Investigators warn that millions are being exposed to these AI-generated falsehoods, complicating efforts to discern fact from fiction in real-time.

The scale of this digital onslaught is unprecedented. Just three of the most viral fake videos have amassed over 100 million views, highlighting the rapid spread and influence of AI-driven misinformation.

Pro-Iranian social media accounts, such as the rapidly growing 2Daily Iran Military,2 have seen explosive follower growth, with numbers on platform X soaring from just over 700,000 on June 13 to 1.4 million by June 19, an 85% increase in less than a week. While this account lacks direct links to Tehran authorities, its surge underscores the potency of AI-enhanced disinformation campaigns.

Experts emphasize that this is the first major conflict where generative AI is deployed at such scale to influence narratives, marking a new era in information warfare that challenges traditional media verification and public trust.

As the Israel-Iran conflict unfolds, the battle for truth online intensifies, with AI-generated content blurring the lines between reality and fabrication on a global scale.

As Israel-Iran military tensions escalate, a large-scale digital disinformation campaign fueled by generative AI is reshaping war narratives. Millions are exposed to fabricated images and videos, with viral fake content garnering over 100 million views, marking the first major conflict influenced by AI-driven misinformation.