Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to viral AI-fakes claiming his assassination with a pointed question in a video posted online: “Do you want to count my fingers?”
Disinformation as Warfare
Rumors of Netanyahu’s death or injury were recently discussed by Iranian state media outlets and amplified by pro-regime social media accounts. Some of these posts even speculated that Netanyahu had six fingers – a common glitch in AI-generated images.
At the same time, a video circulated on social media showing a man hugging a cardboard cutout of Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, who has not been seen or heard from since his appointment.
Experts say this reflects a broader trend of using disinformation as a tactic in the ongoing conflict. Shahriar Kaisar, a senior lecturer at RMIT University, explained to SBS Examines that “battles are now fought not only on the ground, but on social media and media as well.”
Kaisar added that the goal of these tactics is to disrupt trust, stating, “The distinction between truth and lie is incredibly blurred. It’s very difficult to understand, you know, what to trust anymore.” He warned that even the perception of reality can be undermined, as “If we see something like, you know, an army being very cruel … That can be dismissed based on the suggestion that it is a fake video, and not necessarily a real one.”
Exaggerated Claims and Traditional Tactics
According to US-based research think-tank Newsguard, the Iranian regime is actively working to “exaggerate or entirely fabricate tales of Iran’s military prowess.” This includes the spread of deepfake footage depicting attacks on locations such as US bases in the Middle East, residential buildings in Tel Aviv, and commercial buildings in Dubai. Other disinformation includes videos purporting to show US and Israeli soldiers expressing homesickness.
Dara Conduit, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne, noted that the Iranian regime has imposed a nationwide internet blackout, allowing it to control the narrative within the country. She explained that the regime aims to convince Iranians that “we’re the victim of the Israeli and US conspiracy that we’ve been telling you about for decades.”
Though, Conduit similarly pointed out that disinformation campaigns aren’t solely focused on a domestic audience, stating that they are “targeting a wide range of people and serving a wide range of goals,” including “sowing confusion and looking to sow dissent” in the West.
Disinformation tactics extend beyond AI-generated videos. Examples include staged videos and misleading footage shared by social media influencers, such as a video falsely claiming to depict an attack on CIA headquarters in Dubai – footage that actually showed a 2015 fire in the UAE.
An Ongoing Battle
Kaisar emphasized the need for a “collective effort” by media, legislators, and the public to combat disinformation. He urged people to “think before you share” and to employ the “ABC rule”: examining the actor, background, and context of any potentially misleading content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iranian regime doing with disinformation?
The Iranian regime is actively engaging in disinformation, attempting to exaggerate or entirely fabricate tales of its military prowess, according to Newsguard.
What is the “ABC rule” for identifying disinformation?
The “ABC rule,” as described by Shahriar Kaisar, involves looking at the actor, background, and context of a video or image to verify its authenticity.
Is AI the only source of disinformation?
No, AI-generated videos are not the only form of disinformation. Traditional tactics, such as staged videos and misleading footage, are also being used.
Given the increasing sophistication of disinformation campaigns, how can individuals best protect themselves from being misled by false information online?
