It’s rare to see propaganda manufactured in real-time. After all, if propaganda is effective, it should only be recognized once it’s too late. However, thanks to a recent Microsoft report, you can see anti-American propaganda being generated by Iran on multiple fake news websites.
Fake Iranian-based websites target partisan audiences to divide the nation
Last week, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center released a report warning that Iran (and groups connected to it) are activating influence campaigns on multiple fronts. In addition to phishing emails and social media botnets, these efforts include covert news sites.
The report mentions three Iran propaganda websites, two of which target left-leaning audiences and one that posts articles appealing to a conservative point of view.
The two left-leaning sites, EvenPolitics and Nio Thinker, produce pro-Harris, anti-Trump, and pro-Palestine content. Right-leaning site Savannah Time, which claims to be a trusted news source in the “vibrant city of Savannah” (no state given), is the polar opposite.
Thanks to the rise of generative AI, sites like these can quickly plagiarize content from authentic websites and then edit the output to put the spin on it they desire.
Why is Iran making fake news sites?
Iran’s goal behind these sites is simple. The more partisan content that gets thrown into the ether, the more the United States will be divided. When it comes to this sort of attack, Iran can provide ammunition, and the right and left will do the damage.
The groups behind these sites can also count on viewers sharing articles that confirm their bias on social media. Once it hits Facebook or X, people are much less likely to vet the information. Iran could also use these articles to add credence to claims from their social media bots. After all, viewers are more likely to trust a post if it has an article to back it up (even if the article is AI-generated propaganda).
How to spot fake news propaganda sites
Fortunately, the groups behind the three sites above didn’t go to great lengths to conceal their origin. All three of them share a few characteristics you can look for to determine whether a site is legitimate or not:
- All the articles have a byline of “(site name) staff.”
- The footers all state, “Designed by (site name) Website design group.”
- Extreme bias and inflammatory content: Most legitimate news sites will at least attempt to take a balanced approach.
- Recent creation: All these sites are less than five years old.
However, vetting your sources is the best way to avoid fake news. If you see a story on a site you’ve never heard of before, look into its origin. Very few of these sites will stand up to basic scrutiny.
