The Sift: Iran war AI fakes

March 16, 2026

Artificial intelligence Journalism Misinformation Press freedoms/First Amendment

An educator's guide
to news literacy

March 16, 2026

Note: The Sift is taking a spring break next week. We will return to your inbox on March 30.

In this issue

Iran war AI fakes | RumorGuard slides

Daily Do Now slides

Don’t miss this week’s classroom-ready resource.

Top picks

Here are the latest news literacy topics and tips on how to integrate them into your classroom.

A sign says “WAR ZONE” next to a megaphone and two gear wheels.

Iran war disinformation has flooded social media in recent weeks.

1. Iran war disinformation spreads online

Since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, AI-generated content and out-of-context images have sowed confusion online.

AI-generated content: Tehran Times, a state-controlled media outlet, posted an image of U.S. radar equipment that was “completely destroyed” — but the image was a manipulated Google Earth image from last year. It’s among a spate of AI-manipulated fakes being used by propagandists and state actors to influence public opinions of the conflict.
Disinformation campaign: Russian-aligned Operation Overload has also posted videos impersonating news outlets and intelligence agencies to undermine people’s sense of safety and impact their behavior.
A few tips: To separate fact from fiction during times of conflict, PolitiFact recommends keeping an eye out for recycled footage, being wary of false AI accusations and consulting multiple, credible sources for news about the war.

💬 Discuss:

How can you verify information about a global conflict or breaking news event?
Why is there more confusion when journalists are reporting from conflict zones?
Why would bad actors spread false claims and manipulated imagery about wars or conflicts? What happens if people dismiss all war content as untrustworthy or AI-generated?

💡 Idea: Use the “AI and Iran war” slide in Week 18 of the Daily Do Now resource to further explore this topic.

🗒️Note: Scroll down to the RumorGuard Rundown section for two teaching slide decks on Iran war misinformation.

⭐ NLP Resources:

Infographic: “Breaking news checklist”
Infographic: “Seven Steps for Staying Sharp Online”

🔗 Related:

“Cascade of A.I. Fakes About War With Iran Causes Chaos Online” (The New York Times)
“CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen on being the only US network reporter in Iran: ‘It’s obviously a big responsibility’” (The Guardian)

2. Can social media use change?

There was once a time when cigarette smoking was everywhere — at restaurants, on airplanes and even in hospitals. But as people started understanding its harm, there was a wide cultural shift, backed by science and legislation, that greatly reduced smoking.

Digital forensic expert Hany Farid believes a similar shift can happen with social media use.

Why misinformation spreads: Social media is not designed as a reliable source of information, Farid told journalist Amna Nawaz on the PBS News podcast Settle In. Algorithms prioritize user engagement — not accuracy — and mis- and disinformation often get more clicks.
Causing harm: Farid said that while there are positive aspects to social media, its addictive tactics harm children.
Change coming: Countries like Australia have banned social media for kids under 16, and other countries are considering similar legislation. There is also growing litigation around social media use.

💬 Discuss:

How is social media beneficial? How is it harmful?
What role do algorithms play in spreading misinformation?
How can you determine where to find credible news and information?
What do you think would be required for widespread views of social media to shift or change? Do you agree with Farid’s smoking analogy? Why or why not?

⭐ NLP Resources:

“Intro to Algorithms” (Checkology® virtual classroom)
Infographic: “Is it legit?”

🗒️Note: For parents and families, check out the “Teen safety: 6 tips for AI and social media” infographic.

🔗 Related:

“Lawyers in landmark social media addiction trial make final appeals to the jury” (The Associated Press)
“Rage bait: the psychology behind social media’s angriest posts” (The Conversation)

3. Afghan woman risks her life to be a journalist

In Afghanistan, girls aren’t permitted to go to school beyond sixth grade and women aren’t allowed to go outside without covering their faces and being accompanied by a male chaperone. But these restrictions haven’t stopped one woman from practicing journalism to report on life under the Taliban.

Women’s stories: Sana Atef (a pseudonym to protect her safety) writes for Zan Times, an investigative newsroom launched in 2022 that reports on human rights violations in Afghanistan. She’s reported on the Taliban’s birth control ban, what it’s like for women to work under the country’s male guardianship laws and more.
Risking execution: Atef risks imprisonment and even death for publishing these stories.
Atef’s plea: She told Forbes that Afghan women need support and asked that people “please, please, never forget females in Afghanistan.”

💡 Idea: Share this 16-minute Forbes video of the interview with Atef and discuss the following questions with students.

💬 Discuss:

What kinds of stories does Atef cover for the Zan Times? Why does Atef continue to practice journalism despite the high risk to her safety?
What makes a country safe or unsafe for journalists to do their job?
Why is freedom of the press essential to a healthy democracy?

💡Another idea: Show students the 2025 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index map. Ask them to guess where their country ranks, then reveal the ranking. Were they surprised, or was it what they expected? Click through several countries and discuss why some countries may be ranked as they are. Ask them to share predictions for future rankings.

⭐ NLP Resource:

“Press Freedoms Around the World” (Checkology)

🔗 Related:

“Empowering Airwaves: Women-Led Radio Stations Amplify Unheard Voices” (Nieman Reports)

These interactive slide decks help students think carefully and critically about viral claims in the digital age.

No, Iran did not release a list of U.S. target cities

A social media post features the text, “Iran Dropped a List Summer is Canceled” and “THERE’S A LIST OF CITIES? #Iran #War #Citylist #USCitiesIran #explorepage” and a list of 11 cities, including “Great Falls, Montana; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Ogden, Utah; Shreveport, Louisiana; Honolulu, Hawaii; Omaha, Nebraska; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Washington, D.C.; Seattle, Washington, and San Francisco, California.” The post also contains a video of a person commenting on the alleged list. The News Literacy Project has added a label that says “FALSE.”

❌ NO: Iran did not release a list of U.S. cities and military bases it is targeting for a retaliatory attack against the U.S. in March 2026.

✅ YES: A list of 15 possible sites in the U.S. vulnerable to nuclear attacks dates back to at least June 2025 and was circulated again in January in newspaper stories about the effects of a hypothetical World War III.

✅ YES: The nuclear historian who compiled this list said that it was speculative and not based on the specific war plans of any single country.

⭐ NewsLit takeaway:

People can be more prone to misinformation during times of heightened anxiety. If you are concerned about a potential military strike, for instance, you might be more ready to accept a false claim that appears to validate your fear. Take a look at these Google Slides for tips on checking the facts, and your emotions, during breaking news events.

Images of U.S. soldiers being captured in Iran are AI-generated

A post reads, “Breaking News. Breaking: Reports indicate that U.S. Delta Force soldiers have been captured and are currently being held by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)” and features three images that appear to show U.S. soldiers captured in Iran. The News Literacy Project has added a label that says “AI-GENERATED.”

❌ NO: These are not authentic photographs of U.S. troops being detained in Iran after a failed military operation.

✅ YES: These are AI-generated images.

❌ NO: As of March 16, there have been no confirmed reports of U.S. soldiers being detained in Iran.

⭐ NewsLit takeaway:

There is a flood of fabricated images and out-of-context claims already circulating about the Iran war. When we recognize that a topic is being targeted with disinformation, we can prepare ourselves to be more critical of similar false claims in the future. Check out these Google Slides for tips to recognize this fabricated content as it continues to spread.

➕ A principal and nine students at a Philadelphia high school are leading the way to incorporate media literacy in their curriculum and have started a FACTS club. FACTS stands for: Find out where a post is from, Analyze it, Challenge it and Think before you Share.

➕ Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities arrested Nashville reporter Estefany Rodriguez this month. ICE claimed she violated her visa conditions, but Rodriguez’s lawyers said in a First Amendment complaint that the arrest was made in retaliation for her reporting on immigration issues.

➕ Are humans better at writing than AI? This New York Times quiz puts some of the world’s most celebrated writers against AI-generated samples to test your preferences.

➕ It’s a turbulent time for student newspapers, but The Daily Californian has managed to maintain its financial independence from UC Berkeley while delivering major scoops.

➕ Pediatricians are struggling with the deluge of vaccine misinformation in their work with parents and families. Some doctors are going through special training on building trust and practicing patience during difficult interactions with patients.

➕ Got news fatigue? The 24-hour news cycle rattles journalists too. Suggested coping methods include turning off app notifications and choosing a few trusted sources.