At Bluesky, I have a list of fact-checkers. Not all content is about the Israel-Iran conflict, but you will find a lot. Here is a curation I made with Perplexity:
Major Categories of Misinformation Identified
AI-Generated and Manipulated Video Content
Viral TikTok Video Claims
A prominent example of AI-generated misinformation emerged on TikTok, where a video garnering over 660,000 views claimed to show Iranian sites destroyed by Israeli attacks9. DW Fact Check determined this content was entirely AI-generated, noting several telltale signs including:
A distorted teddy bear with an unnaturally clean appearance amid destruction
Firefighters remaining completely motionless while others vanished
Rocket debris featuring impossible dual arrowheads
Overall visual inconsistencies typical of AI manipulation9
Recycled Footage from Previous Conflicts
Multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter) shared video footage claiming to show current Israeli missile strikes against Iran910. However, fact-checkers traced this footage to an Iranian missile attack on Israel from October 2024, demonstrating how old content is repeatedly recycled to exploit current events910. India Today Fact Check specifically identified one widely shared video as showing Iran’s previous attack on Israel’s Nevatim Airbase10.
Misleading Images and False Claims
Fabricated Iranian Missile Launches
An image viewed 3.6 million times on X allegedly showed Iran launching missiles at Israel in response to the June 13 attacks9. DW Fact Check revealed this photograph was actually from a 2021 Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps military exercise called “Great Prophet 17,” making it completely unrelated to the current conflict9.
Explosion Footage Misattribution
AFP Fact Check identified posts sharing images of explosions claimed to show damage from Israeli strikes on Iranian oil refineries11. These images were actually from a November 2020 incident at a petrochemical plant in Ilam, Iran, demonstrating how years-old footage continues to circulate during breaking news events11.
Social Media Platform Vulnerabilities
X’s Algorithm Amplification Issues
Research by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found that verified accounts on X played a significant role in spreading misinformation, with their blue-tick status amplifying false content through the platform’s algorithm12. Many accounts posting misleading information claimed to be open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts, lending false credibility to their posts12.
Scale of Fake Content Distribution
Studies revealed alarming statistics about the volume of false information:
Over 30 false, misleading, or AI-generated images and videos identified by researchers1312
Combined views exceeding 37 million for misleading posts in the first hours after the attack12
Approximately one in four accounts posting about the conflict appeared to be fake14
Historical Context of Iran-Israel Disinformation Campaigns
Long-term Information Warfare Operations
Research has revealed sophisticated, long-running disinformation campaigns targeting the Israel-Iran conflict. FakeReporter organization documented a foreign influence network connected to Iran that has operated in Israel since 2021, using dozens of fake profiles across multiple platforms15. This network has:
Spread lies and incitement to deepen rifts among Israelis
Impersonated journalists, social activists, and rabbis
Created fake content including deepfake videos of political figures
Targeted specific communities including LGBTQ+ individuals and ultra-Orthodox Jews15
Iranian State Media Participation
Iranian state television actively participated in spreading misinformation, showing footage from Chilean wildfires earlier in 2024 and claiming it depicted aftermath of attacks on Israel1312. This demonstrates how state actors contribute to the information chaos surrounding conflicts.
Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior
Multi-Platform Operations
Disinformation campaigns have utilized sophisticated multi-platform strategies across:
WhatsApp groups for intimate community discussions
Telegram channels for broader messaging
Facebook and Instagram for visual content
TikTok for video-based misinformation
Dating sites and fake news websites for extended influence operations15
Israeli Counter-Operations
Reports also revealed that Israel has conducted its own information warfare campaigns, with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs reportedly spending $2 million on operations using fake accounts targeting U.S. lawmakers, particularly focusing on Democratic and African-American members of Congress16.
Current Response from Fact-Checking Organizations
Rapid Response Systems
Major fact-checking organizations have established dedicated monitoring systems for the Israel-Iran conflict:
DW Fact Check has published multiple rapid-response analyses identifying AI-generated content and recycled footage917
AFP Fact Check maintains ongoing verification of viral images and videos11
Reuters Fact Check continues monitoring for false claims across platforms18
India Today Fact Check provides regional verification services10
Platform-Specific Challenges
TikTok Content Moderation
TikTok reported removing 925,000 videos related to Middle East conflicts for violating community standards, including content promoting Hamas16. However, the platform continues to struggle with AI-generated content that mimics authentic footage.
X’s Algorithmic Amplification
The platform’s decision to replace human content moderators with AI systems has created vulnerabilities that malicious actors exploit, with fake accounts gaining verification status and algorithmic boost1219.
Implications for Information Security
National Security Concerns
Israeli officials have characterized foreign disinformation operations as representing “new and real threats to democratic societies,” calling for national plans to promote digital literacy and regulate social networks15. The sophistication of current operations, including the use of AI-generated content and coordinated inauthentic behavior, poses challenges to traditional fact-checking approaches.
Technological Evolution
The current crisis demonstrates how disinformation tactics continue to evolve:
Deepfake Technology: Increasingly sophisticated AI-generated videos of political figures2021
Coordinated Networks: Multi-platform operations spanning years of preparation15
State Actor Involvement: Direct participation by government entities in spreading false information1316
The Israel-Iran conflict of June 2025 has revealed the extent to which modern information warfare accompanies military conflicts, with sophisticated actors using AI technology, recycled content, and coordinated networks to spread false narratives across multiple platforms simultaneously91312.
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