In the midst of the intensifying Israeli conflict with Gaza, social media platforms are being inundated with misleading and artificially generated content, according to researchers from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). These deceptive images and videos, falsely claiming to show the aftermath of attacks on Israel, have gained millions of views, with one video garnering over 22 million views on the platform formerly known as Twitter, referred to as X.

One particular instance revealed that Iranian state television displayed footage of purported damage caused by the recent attacks, depicting a fire under an orange-hued sky. However, it was fact-checked to be footage from a Chilean wildfire in February, highlighting the ease with which misinformation can spread during time-bound events like conflict.

The ISD researchers identified over 30 instances of false, misleading, or AI-generated images and videos on X, totaling more than 35 million views. Although some posts had been removed by the time NPR revisited them, many continued to draw engagement. Astonishingly, one video generated over 13 million views with the caption, "MARK THIS TWEET IN HISTORY WW3 HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED." Another post, featuring outdated footage of rockets in the region, gained over a million views despite the author acknowledging its age in a subsequent post.

Interestingly, the ISD found that X was the platform where these misleading clips gained the most traction, surpassing major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. It is unclear who is behind these accounts or what their motives may be. Some accounts sported the blue checkmark symbol, indicating verification or an active subscription to X Premium, which grants wider reach and potential revenue generation.

Since Elon Musk's ownership, the platform has scaled back on content moderation and relies more on community notes to flag problematic content. However, the researchers noted that only a couple of the identified posts had community notes attached on Sunday, with the number growing to ten by Monday, suggesting that viewers were still engaging despite the labels.

The impact of this misleading content extends beyond its false portrayal of the conflict. Moustafa Ayad, ISD's executive director for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, expressed concern that the posts were fueling Islamophobia and antisemitism. Comments such as "I hope the Muslims kill the Jews" or "the Jews die" are prevalent, highlighting the divisive and dangerous nature of such content.

This rise in deceptive content on social media during a time of conflict underscores the challenges of discerning truth from falsehood. With misinformation spreading rapidly, users are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate through the deluge of content and separate fact from fiction.

As the Israeli conflict continues, it is crucial that individuals exercise caution and critically evaluate the credibility of the content they consume and share, relying on verified sources to stay informed.