AI-created videos of Iran protests gain millions of views online as users fill an information void caused by government internet restrictions
WASHINGTON: AI-generated videos purporting to show protests in Iran have flooded the web, researchers said.
Social media users are pushing hyper-realistic deepfakes to fill an information void amid the country’s severe internet restrictions.
US disinformation watchdog NewsGuard identified seven AI-generated videos depicting the Iranian protests.
These videos, created by both pro- and anti-government actors, have collectively amassed some 3.5 million views across online platforms.
One video shared on X showed women protesters smashing a vehicle belonging to the Basij paramilitary force.
An X post featuring this AI clip, shared by what NewsGuard described as anti-regime users, garnered nearly 720,000 views.
Anti-regime users in the United States also posted AI videos depicting Iranian protesters symbolically renaming local streets after President Donald Trump.
One clip shows a protester changing a street sign to “Trump St” while other demonstrators cheer.
Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the aid of the Iranian people over the crackdown.
He said he had been told the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, but added that he would “watch it and see” about threatened military action.
Pro-regime social media users also shared AI videos purportedly showing large-scale pro-government counterprotests.
The AI creations highlight the growing prevalence of “hallucinated” visual content on social media during major news events.
This content often overshadows authentic images and videos from the ground.
In this case, AI creators were filling an information void caused by an internet blackout imposed by the Iranian regime.
“There’s a lot of news — but no way to get it because of the internet blackout,” said NewsGuard analyst Ines Chomnalez.
“Foreign social media users are turning to AI video generators to advance their own narratives about the unfolding chaos.”
The fabricated videos are the latest example of AI tools being deployed to distort fast-developing breaking news.
AI fabrications, often amplified by partisan actors, have fueled alternate realities around recent major news events.
AFP fact-checkers also uncovered misrepresented images that created misleading narratives about the Iranian protests.
One months-old video purportedly showing demonstrations in Iran was actually filmed in Greece in November 2025.
Another clip claiming to depict a protester tearing down an Iranian flag was filmed in Nepal during last year’s protests.
