Report: Iran Influences American Public Opinion Through Artificial Intelligence

SadaNews - Iran is making increasing progress in the "information war" through videos and memes created by artificial intelligence that spread rapidly online, aiming to influence American public opinion and deepen political and social divisions in the United States. These clips use characters in a style reminiscent of "Lego" games, such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in satirical scenes that portray the United States and Israel as weak, according to a report published by the American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal."

The new Iranian messages rely on satire and Western popular culture rather than the traditional revolutionary rhetoric associated with the revolution and religious symbols. This campaign seeks to convey the idea that Trump prioritizes Israel's interests over those of his own country and that Americans are paying the price for a war that serves other political objectives.

Media experts believe that Iran has succeeded this time because it used language and content that is close to the trending discussions within American society, across various orientations, relying on humor and widespread dissemination to attract the audience. Experts explained that this media material appears more modern and better understands Western culture compared to older Iranian methods.

Experts in Iranian media, such as Narges Baghouli from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S., state that "the content they produce uses language and discussions that were originally circulating among both the right and the left." She added, "They realized that if the content is funny and clever enough, it can go viral."

One of the key producers of this content is the platform "Explosive Media," which is believed to operate with support or approval from Iranian authorities, despite claiming to be independent. Iranian embassies and official accounts have also contributed to spreading these clips on social media, resulting in a significant increase in interaction with them since the onset of the war.

Many of these posts mock Trump; for instance, the Iranian embassy in Thailand published a clip showing Trump appearing to doze off while sitting behind his desk in the Oval Office. In another post on the "X" platform shared by the same embassy, it stated: "Open the strait or I will (COVFEFE). Thank you for your attention to this matter," referencing a mysterious tweet that the president had posted during his first term.

The "Wall Street Journal" report notes that the Iranian "Revolutionary Guard" has invested for years in media production companies targeting youth and the global audience, but this strategy did not receive full support until the recent war erupted and a new generation became more open to global digital culture.