A small Iranian media outfit is producing viral, Lego-style AI videos that experts say amount to sophisticated propaganda aimed at Western audiences. In a BBC interview, a representative of the group, Explosive Media, acknowledged for the first time that Iran’s government is a paying client, despite earlier claims of independence. The clips, which have amassed hundreds of millions of views during the U.S.-Iran war, blend sensational imagery with political narratives, including disputed claims about a downed U.S. pilot and references to the “Epstein files.” Disinformation researchers say AI tools trained largely on Western data help tailor culturally resonant messages, accelerating “defensive memetic warfare” designed to bypass traditional media. Platforms have attempted takedowns, but new accounts quickly proliferate. The campaign underscores how low-cost AI content can reshape information battles, raising risks of misinterpretation and escalation even as Iran faces severe domestic internet restrictions.
Related articles:
Propaganda in Iran
Iran–United States relations
Disinformation
Computational propaganda
Psychological warfare
