As the war in Iran unfolds, social media has been flooded with videos and images claiming to show real-time events — but not all of them are what they seem.

Advances in artificial intelligence and the speed of online platforms have made misinformation and disinformation easier to create and spread during the war. What’s the difference between the two?

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread, regardless of whether there is intent to mislead, often without harmful intent whereas disinformation is deliberately spreading misleading or biased information, including manipulated narratives or facts, with the specific intention to deceive, harm, or manipulate.

Both can be extremely harmful when the country is engaged in war.

Experts say this shift is not only changing how people understand what is going on but is also raising concerns about operational security and the potential real-world consequences of what is shared online.

According to the BBC, AI-generated videos of the war have reached millions of viewers despite being misleading or entirely fabricated.

Operational security, or OPSEC, is the practice of protecting sensitive information that could be used by adversaries.

In today’s digital environment, that can include details shared unintentionally through social media posts, images, or videos.

From video game clips and recycled footage from years past conflicts to AI-generated imagery, the line between what is real and what is not is becoming harder to distinguish.

The rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation is not just driven by new technology, but also by how accessible that technology has become.

Oliver Clinch, a cybersecurity expert based in Arizona, said artificial intelligence has significantly lowered the barrier to creating misleading content.

“Before, misinformation would be done by a team of people,” Clinch said. “With AI, one person can do it now in a fraction of the time.” He added that as AI-generated content becomes more realistic, it is increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between real and fabricated images and videos, especially for those less familiar with the technology.

Clinch said posting online can pose serious security risks, as seemingly harmless posts can reveal sensitive information through location metadata, images, or background details.

“If you post something on the internet, anticipate that it’s going to be there forever,” Clinch said. “People can triangulate exactly where you took that video from.”

He warned that in conflict zones, sharing content online can unintentionally expose locations or put individuals and others at risk.

An Arizona U.S. Navy Veteran spoke to Northeast Valley News on the condition of anonymity. He was formerly stationed in the Middle East and said OPSEC was taken seriously because of the presence of adversaries in the region.

“It was taken quite seriously,” he said, noting the importance of limiting what is shared publicly, even if it is unclassified.

He explained that even discussing operations or location details could create unnecessary risks. “You don’t want them to know where you’re at,” he said. “Why would I want to make it easier for them to hit me?”

He emphasized that civilians may not always understand the potential impact of what they share online and said that even well-intentioned posts can unintentionally reveal sensitive information or influence how events are perceived.

“You don’t know if what you’re doing could maybe get someone hurt or killed.”

The line between what is real and what is fake is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.

From viral videos to firsthand accounts, information now spreads faster than it can be verified. For both civilians and those involved in military operations, experts say the responsibility to question, verify, and think critically before sharing — especially when it could impact operational security — has never been more important.