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What’s happening: Twenty-five days into the Iran war, NewsGuard has identified 50 false claims related to the conflict that collectively have garnered hundreds of millions of views — an average of two false claims a day.
Context: The 50 claims have been cataloged in NewsGuard’s data stream of provably false claims that have spread online, known as False Claims Fingerprints. NewsGuard documents claims that have significant spread and a high risk of harm.
A closer look: NewsGuard identified three themes related to the 50 false narratives: They overwhelmingly push a pro-Iranian agenda; they have evolved from using misrepresented photos and videos to fabricated AI-generated imagery; and increasingly, they involve assertions that authentic media reporting factually is actually AI-created false claims.
Iranian triumphs: Of the 50 false claims NewsGuard identified, the overwhelming majority — 92 percent, or 46 out of 50 — advanced pro-Iran narratives.
These claims typically overstate the scale and impact of Iranian missile attacks, especially in Israel, claiming that Iranians had destroyed strategic assets such as a Mossad building, Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility, and the Ben Gurion Airport. None of these attacks took place.
Iranian state media and other...
Welcome to Reality Check, NewsGuard’s nonpartisan newsletter that tracks the false claims and conspiracy theories that shape our world — and who’s behind them. Support us by becoming a premium memb...