Game Footage Disguised as Real Combat: Surge in AI-Generated Fake Videos Amid US-Israel-Iran Conflict

Surge in Fake Content Driven by View-Based Profits and Propaganda Purposes
AI Analysis Tools Struggle to Accurately Determine Authenticity of Videos
Restricted Access to Information Further Fuels the Spread of False Information

As military clashes between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensify, fake war videos and images generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly spreading across social media. Videos that appear to show real battle scenes are recording millions of views, raising growing concerns about the distortion of information regarding the state of the war.

Recently, numerous fake war videos have been spreading on social media, showing scenes such as Tel Aviv being hit by missile attacks, major Middle Eastern facilities appearing to be bombed, and footage of US troops being executed. CNN

On March 10 (local time), major international media outlets such as CNN, BBC, and AFP reported that fake war videos are spreading in large quantities on social media, including footage depicting Tel Aviv under missile attack, major facilities in the Middle East apparently being bombed, and scenes of US soldiers being executed. They urged the public to exercise particular caution. Notably, some videos have recorded tens of millions of views, spreading false information as if these events are currently taking place. However, a significant number of these were confirmed to be fake content created using generative AI or synthetic technologies.

One representative case involved an X (formerly Twitter) account posting a video of a bombing with the description, "China leaks the situation at a US military base in Jordan." This video recorded more than 6 million views in just one day, but evidence of manipulation was found in several places, such as unnatural graphics and soldiers easily pushing aside heavy protective barriers.

The problem is that some AI analysis tools also judged this video to be real battle footage. "Grok", the AI chatbot provided by X, said of one such video that "the explosions, smoke, and conversations among the soldiers resemble real combat scenes," and concluded that it was not AI-generated. However, other detection programs analyzed the same video and determined that it was "approximately 75% AI-generated."

Scenes from Video Games Also Shared as Real Battle Footage

Fake content related to war is found not only in videos but also in images. For example, images depicting Dubai's Burj Khalifa engulfed in flames or satellite photos appearing to show the destruction of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain have been uploaded to social media. According to Google's analysis, some of these images were confirmed to have been generated or edited using AI tools.

The main reason why such fake combat videos are uploaded is, as expected, because of the revenue generated from views. On platforms like X, advertising revenue is paid for posts with high views and engagement, leading some users to create sensational fake videos and spread them indiscriminately. Screenshot from social media

There have even been cases where scenes from video games were shared as real battle footage. For example, a video posted with the description "Iranian aircraft attack a US warship" was actually a scene from a game, yet it recorded a huge number of views. After users pointed out the discrepancy, a warning label stating "content out of context" was added to the post. The main reason such fake battle videos are uploaded is, of course, the profit from views. On platforms like X, advertising revenue is paid for posts with high views and engagement, leading some users to create sensational fake videos and spread them indiscriminately.

Significant Amount of Content Created for Propaganda Purposes

Furthermore, it is presumed that a considerable amount of content is intended for propaganda purposes, aiming to make a particular faction appear dominant in the war. The limitation of information access during wartime makes it even more difficult to verify the facts, which is also cited as a background factor for the spread of false information.

Furthermore, it is estimated that there is a considerable amount of propaganda content aimed at making a particular force appear dominant in the war. The limited access to information during wartime also makes it more difficult to verify the truth, which is cited as a background for the spread of false information. Screenshot from SNS

In fact, at present, external reporting from within Iran is heavily restricted. As a result, many videos uploaded by international media and citizens are being disseminated via social media, making it even harder to verify information. The nature of short-form videos, which are consumed rapidly, is also cited as a factor accelerating the spread of fake content. In response, major media outlets such as BBC, CNN, and AFP are strengthening fact-checking of war-related content. Major social media platforms are also taking swift action against misinformation. X, where the most fake videos have been shared, has announced that any posts containing AI-generated war videos without a disclosure label will be excluded from its monetization program.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.