Iranian Hackers Use Deepfake News to Disrupt UAE TV Services

State-backed Iranian hackers broadcasted AI-generated deepfake reports on the Israel-Hamas war, affecting viewers in the UAE, UK, and Canada.

Iranian state-backed hackers, identified as part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, disrupted TV streaming services in the UAE with deepfake news reports on the Israel-Hamas war.
The operation, known as 'For Humanity,' utilized AI to generate a fake news anchor presenting unverified images purportedly showing Palestinians harmed by Israeli military actions in Gaza.
The cyberattack extended beyond the UAE, reaching audiences in the United Kingdom and Canada, with channels including the BBC affected, though not directly hacked.
Microsoft identified this as the first Iranian influence operation leveraging AI as a significant component, marking an escalation in the scope of Iranian operations since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Experts warn that the rise of generative AI and deepfake technology poses a risk of being used to disrupt elections, including the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election.