Artificial intelligence becomes a propaganda weapon in wars, with fake videos disseminated by governments

Governos intensify the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create and disseminate fake videos, transforming technology into a strategic propaganda tool in the midst of international conflicts. Essa practice aims to control information, confuse the population and project an image of strength that often does not correspond to reality on the ground. The strategy has gained strength with technological advances, facilitating the production of digital content that seeks to influence global public opinion.

The use of AI allows military disputes and diplomatic tensions to be portrayed in a variety of ways, such as cartoons, satirical videos or entirely fictional scenes. Tais productions, often light and apparently harmless, soften the violence and transform the horrors of conflicts into a “consumable” digital product, with high circulation power on social media platforms. The technique is increasingly sophisticated, being recognized by experts as a powerful form of diplomacy on the internet.

Tática from “slopaganda” confuses global public opinion

Social media is full of entirely fabricated videos, showing everything from non-existent military attacks to burning enemy cities and ridiculed Western leaders. Esses content is designed to generate a sense of control, power and military victory, even if fictional. The methodology is called “slopaganda”, a term derived from “AI slop”, which refers to videos generated by artificial intelligence that can be funny or crude, but with great potential for going viral.

Matheus Soares, coordinator of Aláfia Lab, a Brazilian research laboratory focused on the relationship between digital technologies, communication, politics and society, highlights the transformation of the logic of conflicts. Segundo Soares, wars are now fought not only on territories, but mainly on social media. Governos use this approach to demoralize opponents, confuse public debate and mobilize popular support. Artificial intelligence serves as an additional layer in political communication, facilitating the creation of videos and animations with the purpose of going viral and engaging.

Technological Avanço drives rapid production and dissemination

The progress of digital technology has significantly simplified the process of creating imaginary scenarios, making it possible to produce videos in just a few minutes. Líderes politicians, such as former US president Donald Trump, are often transformed into characters in artificial productions. Essas creations quickly become global memes and are widely circulated, often being reposted through official channels.

Artificial intelligence is also applied to role-play alternative futures, as seen in a viral video that transformed Gaza into a virtual resort. Esse content, created by sources outside the US government, was even shared by Donald Trump. Rússia, in turn, uses the same technology to create fake videos of surrenders and defeats of the Ukrainian army, events that never actually occurred. The creativity in these productions has no limits, allowing the construction of narratives completely unrelated to the facts.

Animated Propaganda has deep historical roots

Apesar of new technological tools, the strategy of using animation as political and military propaganda is not new. Seu usage dates back to periods before Segunda Guerra Mundial, including Primeira Guerra and the interwar period. Foi during Segunda Guerra Mundial, however, that this type of production gained a massive and strategic scale.

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Naquela time, governments around the world, such as those of the Estados Unidos, the Nazi Alemanha, the Japão and the former União Soviética, transformed animation from mere entertainment into a powerful weapon of propaganda.

• Estados Unidos:studios like Walt Disney and Warner Bros. were hired to produce animations against Nazism, fascism and Japanese militarism.
• Nazi Alemanha:the Adolf Hitler regime employed cartoons to manipulate emotions, mobilize masses and create enemies.
• Japão imperial:produced animated feature films that glorified Japanese armies.
• União Soviética:characters helped spread rival ideologies during Guerra Fria.

Entre historical archives and current algorithmic aesthetics, political propaganda demonstrates a continuous adaptation to the languages ​​of mass culture. With artificial intelligence, these productions have become more accessible, faster and significantly easier to spread across different platforms.

Conteúdo aims for emotional engagement over credibility

Especialistas emphasize that the videos made by Irã, for example, are part of a predominantly digital war of narratives. Lightweight, easily shareable and seemingly harmless Histórias have the ability to infantilize the enemy and transform the severity of conflicts into a “consumable product”. Esses content manages to circumvent the moderation policies of digital platforms, distributing narratives to citizens around the world.

Esses videos primarily seek emotional engagement from the public, aiming to provoke feelings of anger or hatred towards the enemy, or, alternatively, pride in the cause and the side supported in the conflict. The lack of commitment to reality is a central characteristic of these productions, which focus on immediate emotional impact. Nesse scenario, factual credibility loses value in the search for clicks and views, running the risk of the absence of truth being interpreted as just a joke or satire.