The war in Iran marks a turning point in the handling of digital information. Never before has so much deceptively realistic AI-generated content been disseminated in such a short time. But the real problem now extends far beyond that: Not only are fakes on the rise, but genuine images and videos are also increasingly coming under suspicion.
A new dimension of disinformation
Since the beginning of the conflict, analysts have observed a veritable flood of AI-generated content: fake videos of missile attacks, synthetic images of destroyed cities, and manipulated footage of supposedly killed political figures. This content is often so realistic that it reaches millions of people and deliberately influences public perception.
But a second, at least equally dangerous trend is developing in parallel: Authentic material is being dismissed as fake. This dynamic is insidious – because it undermines the foundation of any fact-based debate.
When doubt becomes a weapon
A particularly striking example is a video of the Israeli Prime Minister appearing in a café after rumors of his death surfaced. Although the video was genuine, it was quickly labeled a deepfake. This misjudgment was amplified by an AI detection tool that assigned the video a high probability of being artificially generated.
The problem: Many people are increasingly relying on such tools without understanding their limitations. A single erroneous result can be enough to establish a false narrative.
This reveals a fundamental dilemma: The more genuine deepfakes exist, the easier it becomes to question authentic content. If, theoretically, everything could be manipulated, suddenly nothing seems reliable anymore.
The limits of technical solutions
AI detection tools are helpful—but they are not infallible. They should never be the sole basis for evaluating content. Even professional fact-checkers use them only as one tool among many.
The reality is: there will be no perfect solution. Neither technology nor fact-checking can fully keep pace with the speed of viral disinformation.
What we can do instead
In this new information landscape, one thing is paramount: a more conscious approach to digital content. Specifically, this means:
- Don’t just check the image, but the context: Is the event also being reported by trustworthy media outlets?
- Look for confirmation: Are there other sources or perspectives that corroborate the events?
- Pay attention to details: Inconsistencies in text, faces, or movements can indicate manipulation.
- Use technology critically: AI tools can be helpful, but should never be the sole decision-maker.
In the case of the café video, for example, its authenticity was relatively easy to verify—through additional images of the location and independent media. The crucial factor here was looking beyond the individual video.
Conclusion: Truth requires more than just eyes
We are moving into a world where our eyes alone are no longer sufficient to distinguish truth from fakery. The most important protection against disinformation is therefore not technology, but critical thinking.
The central question is no longer simply: Is this video real? But rather: Is there sufficient evidence that what I see actually happened?
Because in a time when “everything could be fake,” the ability to assess information becomes a crucial skill—especially for young people who navigate digital spaces daily.
This is precisely where media literacy comes in: not as a luxury, but as a prerequisite for a functioning democratic public sphere.
