Iran war with Iran monetised by online creators using AI disinformation
Online creators have exploited social media monetisation schemes to profit from a flood of AI-generated fake war videos and fabricated satellite imagery, amassing hundreds of millions of views and causing serious public harm by distorting understanding of a live military conflict. What happened Online creators took to X and other platforms to take advantage of the US-Israel conflict with Iran by flooding them with fake AI-generated videos and images of fake airstrikes on Tel Aviv and the sinking of the USS Abraham Lincoln, and satellite imagery of destroyed military bases. As a result, millions of users, including UN officials and journalists, shared fake content purporting to show mass civilian casualties and military strikes, thereby complicating emergency response and humanitarian assessments. The volume of fakes led the public to dismiss authentic footage of real casualties as "AI-generated," a phenomenon known as the "liar's dividend. Why it happened The incident was driven by "monetization gamers": individual creators and coordinated groups (notably a network in Pakistan managing dozens of hacked accounts) who leveraged the "fog of war" to generate millions of views. By spreading sensational, AI-fabricated content, these users successfully tapped into platform revenue-sharing programs, turning disinformation into a profitable enterprise. What it means For society, it suggests that during crises, the information ecosystem is now "adversarial by default." The general public can no longer rely on visual evidence as a proxy for truth. For policymakers, the event has intensified calls for "Know Your Customer" (KYC) requirements for monetised creators and mandatory watermarking for generative AI tools. For platforms, it has forced a pivot toward "algorithmic throttling" and the removal of financial incentives for accounts that prioritize engagement over veracity during armed conflicts. System 🤖 Grok Midjourney Veo 3 Developer: Google; Midjourney; xAI Country: Multiple Sector: Politics Purpose: Generat e fake war footage Technology: Generative AI Issue: Alignment; Mis/disinf or mation; Transparency Timeline ⏰ Late February 2026. US-Israel strikes on Iran begin. AI fakes immediately surge. March 2, 2026. BBC Verify and NewsGuard report that AI-generated war footage has surpassed 100 million views across X, Instagram, and TikTok. March 3, 2026. X announces 90-day revenue suspension for unlabeled AI war videos. March 4, 2026. Investigative reports reveal a Pakistani network managing 31 accounts dedicated to gaming war monetisation. Investigations, assessments, audits 👁️ BBC Verify. AI-generated Iran war videos surge as creators use new tech to cash in
- Date it happened
- 2026-01-01
- Product, system or model
- Grok; Midjourney; Veo 3
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