The Erosion of Truth: How AI and Disinformation Cloud the Iranian Uprising
As protests sweep across Iran, a disturbing parallel battle is unfolding online: a war of information where the very notion of truth is under attack. The struggle for control of the narrative is being waged not just by the Iranian regime, but by foreign actors and even opposition groups, utilizing increasingly sophisticated tools of manipulation, including artificial intelligence.
Meta Description: The Iranian protests face a new threat: AI-fueled disinformation. Explore how manipulated media, the “liar’s dividend,” and foreign interference are obscuring the truth on the ground.
The Liar’s Dividend in a Digital Age
The protests in Iran are undeniably real. Millions of citizens, grappling with economic hardship and political repression, are demanding change. The regime’s violent response has reportedly claimed thousands of lives. Yet, a pervasive wave of accusations – that images and videos documenting these events are AI-generated or otherwise fabricated – threatens to undermine even verifiable truths. This phenomenon, known as the “liar’s dividend,” provides cover for those seeking to sow doubt and suppress dissent.
AI-enhanced content isn’t limited to Iran. In 2025, AI-generated images muddied reporting on protests in Turkey, while in Nepal, AI-generated content was leveraged as a mobilization tool. However, Iran presents a uniquely complex scenario. Multiple factions – the regime, foreign governments, and various opposition groups – are actively competing to shape public perception, and the tools for creating convincing forgeries have never been more accessible.
A Web of Deception and Counter-Deception
Videos emerging from Iran depict a diverse range of motivations, from simple anti-regime chants to calls for the restoration of the monarchy under Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrators express profound economic anxieties and animosity towards Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic. But this authentic expression is increasingly obscured by a deluge of manipulated or suspect content. The regime, with decades of experience in suppressing dissent, is adept at exploiting these ambiguities.
As a diaspora Iranian with 15 years of experience studying online deception, I’ve witnessed firsthand the evolution of Iran’s information landscape. My work with Witness’s Deepfake Rapid Response Force focuses on helping journalists and human rights defenders assess the veracity of media. The current crisis in Iran has presented us with a significant challenge.
This isn’t a single, coordinated disinformation campaign, but a chaotic ecosystem fueled by distrust of state media, social media manipulation by both the regime and external actors, and a general proliferation of distorted content – some intentional, some accidental. The “liar’s dividend” disproportionately benefits the regime, allowing it to discredit legitimate documentation and justify its crackdown.
The “Tank Man” Photo and the Power of Enhancement
The protests erupted on December 28th, and within hours, regime-aligned accounts began dismissing authentic images as AI-generated. A prime example is the image dubbed “Iran’s Tank Man” – a protester confronting security forces in Tehran. While the original video was low quality, a BBC Persian journalist posted a clearer screengrab, which quickly circulated. The event was verified by multiple sources. However, someone subsequently enhanced the image using AI editing tools, likely to improve its clarity and shareability.
Regime accounts seized upon the visible artifacts resulting from this AI enhancement, labeling the photo – and other protest footage – as “AI slop.” One account, ironically using an AI-generated profile picture, dismissed it as a “pathetic Zionist fabrication.” This highlights a crucial point: the public often lacks the ability to distinguish between legitimate use of AI tools and malicious manipulation.
Manipulated Audio and the Role of Foreign Actors
The manipulation extends beyond images. An account claiming affiliation with the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) posted a video with pro-Pahlavi chants dubbed over protest footage, then “exposed” it as manipulated to discredit monarchists. Pro-regime accounts immediately amplified this accusation. This tactic mirrors a long-documented pattern of the regime using fake opposition personas to sow discord and undermine authentic documentation, as detailed by researchers at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
A Russian propaganda account further compounded the issue by combining the AI-enhanced “Tank Man” photo with the allegedly manipulated audio, presenting both as evidence of a Western-orchestrated disinformation campaign. This closed the loop, demonstrating how manipulated content can be weaponized and disseminated across geopolitical lines.
Even instances of manipulation by opposition groups play into the regime’s hands. Manoto, a London-based Persian-language channel aligned with the monarchist opposition, aired footage of pro-Pahlavi chants that were traced back to a memorial service, overlaid onto unrelated protest footage. While the intent may not have been malicious, it provided ammunition for regime propagandists.
The Broader Geopolitical Context
The Islamic Republic routinely attributes dissent to foreign conspiracies, using this narrative to justify repression. The current crisis is no different, but now foreign actors are actively contributing to the regime’s narrative by sharing doctored content. Israel, for example, has been using AI-generated content to promote anti-regime and pro-Israeli narratives in Iran since last summer, as reported by Citizen Lab. A Carnegie Endowment report details how this extends to fabricated footage of alleged strikes on Iranian facilities.
An Israeli diplomat even shared a montage of alleged strikes, acknowledging that parts were AI-manipulated but defending it as illustrating Israel’s precision. Similarly, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted an AI-altered image of police confronting protesters. These interventions, while intended to support the opposition, inadvertently provide the regime with justification to dismiss all documentation as foreign deception.
What do you believe is the most significant threat to accurate reporting in the Iranian context – deliberate disinformation campaigns or the inherent challenges of capturing a complex reality?
Sometimes, the problem isn’t manipulation at all, but the inherent difficulty of representing a fractured reality. Different angles of the same protest can yield different chants, making verification a complex undertaking. This “epistemic fog” makes it impossible to definitively know what is representative, especially in a country as diverse as Iran.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disinformation in Iran
Here are some common questions about the challenges of verifying information coming from Iran:
What is the “liar’s dividend” and how does it apply to the Iranian protests?
The “liar’s dividend” refers to the benefit bad actors gain by sowing doubt about the truth, even if they aren’t directly responsible for the initial disinformation. In Iran, the regime benefits from accusations of AI manipulation, as it allows them to discredit legitimate documentation of protests.
How can I identify AI-generated or manipulated images and videos?
Look for inconsistencies in lighting, shadows, and reflections. Pay attention to unnatural blurring or distortions, and use reverse image search tools to see if the image has been altered or previously appeared in a different context.
What role are foreign actors playing in the disinformation surrounding the Iranian protests?
Both Israel and Russia have been identified as spreading potentially misleading content, with Israel using AI-generated images and videos to promote its narrative, and Russia amplifying regime accusations of Western interference.
Is it possible to determine the true death toll from the Iranian protests?
Determining an accurate death toll is extremely difficult due to the regime’s internet shutdown and restrictions on access to information. Estimates range from 12,000 to 20,000, but the true scale remains unknown.
What can be done to combat the spread of disinformation about Iran?
Supporting independent journalism, utilizing fact-checking resources, and promoting media literacy are crucial steps. Platforms also have a responsibility to detect and remove manipulated content.
Since Thursday evening, the Iranian regime has intensified the information blackout with a national internet shutdown, further fracturing the information landscape. Verified footage is scarce, and communication with the outside world is severely restricted. Diaspora Iranians are desperately trying to reach family members, while documentation organizations struggle to assess the true extent of the crisis.
The Iranian regime has spent decades undermining the credibility of dissent. Now, AI provides a new weapon – not just for creating fakes, but for eroding trust in reality itself. Increased investment in AI detection and fact-checking is urgently needed to combat this threat.
Ultimately, the voices and aspirations of the Iranian people must be heard, not distorted by foreign governments or suppressed by regime propaganda. What are your thoughts on the ethical implications of using AI in geopolitical conflicts?
Disclaimer: This article provides information for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice.
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