AI-generated fake satellite imagery is spreading disinformation in the US-Iran war, with manipulated photos of destroyed bases gaining millions of views online.
WASHINGTON: A convincing satellite image of a devastated US base in Qatar, posted by an Iranian news outlet, was an AI-generated fake. This incident highlights the growing threat of technology-enabled disinformation during wartime.
The rise of generative AI has supercharged the ability of state actors and propagandists to fabricate realistic satellite imagery during major conflicts. Researchers warn this trend carries significant real-world security implications.
As the US-Israeli war against Iran continues, the state-aligned Tehran Times posted a “before vs. after” image on X. It claimed the photo showed “completely destroyed” US radar equipment at a base in Qatar.
In reality, it was an AI-manipulated version of a Google Earth image from last year of a US base in Bahrain. Subtle visual clues included a row of cars parked in identical positions in both the authentic and the fake photo.
The manipulated image still garnered millions of views as it spread across social media in multiple languages. It illustrates how users increasingly fail to distinguish reality from fiction on platforms saturated with AI-generated visuals.
Open-source intelligence researcher Brady Africk noted an “increase in manipulated satellite imagery” appearing online after major events like the Middle East war. He told AFP that many have the hallmarks of imperfect AI-generation, including odd angles and blurred details.
“Others appear to be an image manipulated manually, often by superimposing indicators of damage or another change on a satellite image that had no such details to begin with,” he said.
Information warfare analyst Tal Hagin flagged another AI-generated satellite image. It falsely purported to show Israeli-US jets targeting a painted aircraft silhouette in Iran while real planes were moved.
Telltale clues included gibberish coordinates embedded in the fake image, which spread across Instagram, Threads and X. AFP detected a SynthID, an invisible watermark meant to identify images created using Google AI.
These fabrications follow the emergence of imposter open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts on social media. These accounts appear designed to undermine the work of credible digital investigators.
“Due to the fog of war, it can be very difficult to determine the success of an adversary’s strikes,” Hagin said. He explained that OSINT using public satellite imagery helped circumvent censorship inside countries like Iran.
“But it’s now being preyed upon by disinformation agents,” he added. Reports of fake AI satellite imagery also followed the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a brief war between India and Pakistan last year.
Africk warned that manipulated imagery can have real-world impacts when people act on unverified information. Effects can range from influencing public opinion on conflict to impacting financial markets.
In the AI age, authentic high-resolution satellite imagery collected in real time gives decision-makers vital clues. It helps assess security threats and debunk falsehoods from unverified sources.
During a recent militant attack on Niamey airport in Niger, fake images of the main terminal on fire circulated online. Satellite intelligence company Vantor used its own imagery to confirm the photos were almost certainly AI-generated.
“When a satellite image is presented as visual evidence in the context of war, it can easily influence how people interpret events,” Bo Zhao from the University of Washington told AFP. He stressed the importance of the public approaching such content with caution and critical awareness.
The Sun Malaysia
