AI-Generated Videos Distort Narrative of Iran Protests

AI-generated videos claiming to show protests in Iran have gained significant attention online, as users turn to hyper-realistic deepfakes to navigate the information vacuum created by the Iranian government’s internet restrictions. According to the disinformation watchdog NewsGuard, at least seven AI-generated videos depicting the protests have collectively attracted approximately 3.5 million views across various online platforms.

Among the notable clips is a video circulating on the platform X, owned by Elon Musk, which features women protesters vandalizing a vehicle associated with the Basij, the Iranian paramilitary force responsible for suppressing dissent. One particular post featuring this AI-created content received nearly 720,000 views, indicating the reach and influence of such material.

In addition to clips showcasing unrest, users in the United States have shared AI videos that depict Iranian protesters symbolically renaming local streets after Donald Trump. One video illustrates a protester altering a street sign to read “Trump St,” with other demonstrators cheering and a caption stating: “Iranian protestors are renaming the streets after Trump.” This aligns with recent comments from Trump, who mentioned his willingness to support the Iranian people amid the ongoing crackdown on protests, which rights organizations estimate has resulted in at least 3,428 deaths.

Pro-government social media users have also utilized AI to share videos purportedly displaying extensive pro-regime counterprotests across Iran. The emergence of these AI-generated videos underscores a broader trend of what experts describe as “hallucinated” visual content during significant news events, which often overshadows genuine footage.

Filling the Information Void

The proliferation of these fabricated videos highlights how creators are addressing the information gap caused by the Iranian regime’s internet blackout, which aims to suppress the flow of information surrounding the protests. Ines Chomnalez, an analyst at NewsGuard, noted, “There’s a lot of news — but no way to get it because of the internet blackout.” She explained that foreign social media users are increasingly turning to AI video generators to promote their narratives amid the chaos.

This situation reflects a growing concern regarding the manipulation of information in real-time news environments. AI technologies, often amplified by partisan actors, have previously contributed to the distortion of events, such as the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and a violent incident involving immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Furthermore, Agence France-Presse (AFP) fact-checkers have identified several misrepresented images that have led to misleading narratives about the Iranian protests, which are the largest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. For instance, one video that falsely claimed to depict protests in Iran was, in reality, shot in Greece in November 2025. Another clip, presented as a protester tearing down an Iranian flag, was actually recorded in Nepal during last year’s upheaval that led to the downfall of the Himalayan nation’s government.

The rapid dissemination of AI-generated content serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by journalists and the public in distinguishing authentic news from manipulated visuals. As the situation in Iran continues to evolve, the impact of these digital creations on public perception and understanding remains to be seen.