Since mid-March, the latest developments in construction toys have been unfolding less in Denmark than in Iran: Leveraging an impressive command of generative artificial intelligence tools, propagandists in Tehran and their networks have flooded social media with animated videos featuring characters inspired by Lego, the Scandinavian toy manufacturer. These highly appealing videos mock US President Donald Trump, depicting him at times wearing a tuxedo covered in excrement, and at others on all fours, held on a leash by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At least one new video has appeared every day since the conflict began on February 28. These videos have played a major role in boosting the visibility of the Islamic Republic’s propaganda worldwide. During the second half of March, pro-regime videos garnered more than 145 million views on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, according to a report from the Israeli cybersecurity firm Cyabra.
YouTube’s suspension of a channel producing these videos was not enough to stop them from spreading. In a conflict marked by the widespread use of AI and popular culture, more and more observers believe that Iran is winning the information war.
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