AI-Enabled Influence Operation Against Iran

Citizen Lab has uncovered a coordinated AI-enabled influence operation against the Iranian government, probably conducted by Israel.

Key Findings

  • A coordinated network of more than 50 inauthentic X profiles is conducting an AI-enabled influence operation. The network, which we refer to as “PRISONBREAK,” is spreading narratives inciting Iranian audiences to revolt against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  • While the network was created in 2023, almost all of its activity was conducted starting in January 2025, and continues to the present day.
  • The profiles’ activity appears to have been synchronized, at least in part, with the military campaign that the Israel Defense Forces conducted against Iranian targets in June 2025.
  • While organic engagement with PRISONBREAK’s content appears to be limited, some of the posts achieved tens of thousands of views. The operation seeded such posts to large public communities on X, and possibly also paid for their promotion.
  • After systematically reviewing alternative explanations, we assess that the hypothesis most consistent with the available evidence is that an unidentified agency of the Israeli government, or a sub-contractor working under its close supervision, is directly conducting the operation.

News article.

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Posted on October 7, 2025 at 7:04 AM • 8 Comments

Comments

Clive Robinson • October 7, 2025 8:41 AM

@ Bruce,

Are you aware of what today’s date is?

Whilst there is a lot I could say about this threads topic. I feel it prudent to say nothing further.

Shashank Yadav • October 7, 2025 8:44 AM

Stanford Internet Observatory had released a similar report on US operations using generative AI to run sock-puppet accounts during the 2022 anti-regime protests in Iran – only what was “coordinated inauthentic behavior” then has become coordinated AI-enabled influence now.

KC • October 7, 2025 9:38 AM

Citizen Lab assesses that the X account @TelAviv_Tehran may be coordinated with the PRISONBREAK group. (Instagram @telaviv_tehran.)

The posts under the accounts are visually stunning.

“As hinted in the username, @TelAviv_Tehran promotes closeness between the Israeli and Iranian populations”

They say the network was detected and referred by the Watt Family Innovation Center Media Forensics Hub. “Linvill and his team had identified an initial set of 37 X accounts presenting key similarities”

Does anyone know if there are open source resources to save X/Instagram posts? I don’t like the thought of linking to accounts if they go offline.

not important • October 7, 2025 5:29 PM

AI ‘wargames’ to strengthen national security
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lx25n9j2lo

=AI will be applied to wargaming with the aim of producing “the best solutions we can”,
deputy vice chancellor Julian Free said.

“It will be used to understand our moves and an enemy’s moves and maybe come to better
decision-making,” he added.

The wargames could also inform how the government responds on future national security scenarios involving both the military and other services, such as the police, and which could include actions by hostile states, disruptions to the economy or environmental crises.=

ResearcherZero • October 7, 2025 9:59 PM

The hosting platforms for images, videos, memes and slop do have some benefits. They are a useful storage and link generating resource for smuggling information and payload delivery.

Research and technology companies BIETA and CIII develop a range of advanced technologies to assist the MSS in its intelligence and information capture activities. Amongst the capabilities provided are the ability to identify communications devices, control connections to infrastructure and capture information transmitted by such devices.

Areas of support include covert information transfer, cryptography and stenography, miniaturization of components, forensics and analysis, network scanning and vulnerability identification destructive attack, intrusion and information theft and other services.

‘https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/bieta-technology-enablement-front-for-chinas-mss

Clive Robinson • October 8, 2025 6:18 AM

@ not important,

Plough Shears into swords?

From the BBC piece you link to,

“the contract would involve applying AI that has already been developed for Lincolnshire’s food production and processing industries.”

The number of livestock themed jokes that could arise from this,

“Wargames + Agricultural AI Fusion”

Is immense, especially as things as is inevitable get closer to the organic fertilizer production and distribution process.

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