(Liberty Shield Network) –
As tensions rise between the United States and Iran, veterans and military communities are being cautioned to stay alert to a flood of online videos and images that may be misrepresented, altered or generated entirely by artificial intelligence.
National security experts say that during global conflicts, it’s common for military footage to circulate rapidly online, blending authentic material with manipulated or fabricated content. The resulting confusion can leave viewers vulnerable to manipulation as they seek clarity amid fast-moving events.
Observers note a consistent pattern: old videos resurfacing without context, footage from unrelated conflicts repackaged as current events, and AI-generated clips appearing across social media. Even genuine images can be stripped of original context and used to provoke strong emotional reactions.
Analysts warn that such tactics are not random. Bad actors deliberately target communities such as veterans, who are seen as trusted voices within their networks and are often deeply attuned to military developments. The strategy often relies on triggering emotional responses quickly, leaving verification of facts as an afterthought — if it happens at all.
Veterans are being encouraged to apply the same discipline and analytical skills they used during military service to evaluating online content. Officials advise pausing to consider the source of any dramatic footage, checking whether trusted outlets are confirming the information, and using tools such as reverse video searches to detect recycled or manipulated media.
In a striking example of how sophisticated the technology has become, some outreach efforts to veterans are now being delivered by AI-generated avatars, designed to look and sound convincingly human.
Experts emphasize that while these digital tactics are evolving rapidly, veterans have the training and critical thinking skills needed to remain vigilant.
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