Social Media is Awash with Fake Videos of the Israel and Hamas Conflict. Here’s How to Spot Them

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has seen a proliferation of disinformation and fake videos crop up online, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. As well as causing distress and spreading false news, fake videos and propaganda can deepen divisions and make it impossible to know for sure what’s going on. Below, we look at ways to spot fake videos to protect yourself from falling victim to false information.

Use Reverse Image Search Tools

One of the best ways to check whether or not a video is authentic is to use a reverse image search tool, such as TinEye or Google Lens. Taking a screenshot of a key part of the video and dropping it into one of these tools will show the content’s original source. 

Doing this is a reliable way to discover if, for example, the content is, in reality, a stock video that’s been used in a misleading context or a video from a different conflict. Even video game footage has been recently used in an attempt to spread fake information. A reverse image search can quickly bring up the information you need to be sure the content you’re viewing is real and being used in its proper context.

Be Mindful of AI Fakes

It’s not just real videos that are being used in new contexts to disseminate false information in the Israel and Hamas conflict. AI-generated images and videos are completely fabricated content that can look surprisingly realistic. But there are steps you can take to avoid being fooled by these deep fakes.

Start by pausing the video and zooming in to check out the details up close. Look for inconsistencies and errors, such as body proportions being off, and glasses frames, or jewelry looking crooked. AI often has trouble creating authenticity when it comes to reflective surfaces, so pay careful attention to, for example, helmet visors. Check out the background details, too, such as street lamps, as misshapen shapes can further suggest that all is not as it seems.

Look for a Lack of Body Movement

As part of assessing the veracity – or otherwise – of a social media video, pay careful attention to the body language of the people in the footage. Look at hand gestures and even whether the person’s chest is moving with their breath, as both of these things are often not present in deep fake videos. Unusual facial expressions and unnatural patterns of blinking, too, are also clues.

Sometimes, the video’s audio may not exactly match with the person’s lip movements as they’re speaking, another indication that you may be viewing fake content.

Question the Source

When viewing videos on social media that purport to show footage about the Israel and Hamas conflict, it’s vital to question the content’s source. Look at who has posted it – are they an authority source on the subject – and their geographical location.

Look at the poster’s profession, whether they have posted regarding the conflict before, and, if so, the nature of this content. All of these things can give us clues as to the intentions of the poster – and their possible biases.

Be Mindful of Bots

It’s not just real individuals posting fake videos on social media you need to stay mindful of: bots are also active, which could be flooding social media with false information. While spotting a bot is tricky, there are some red flags. For example, if a social media account is suddenly posting a slew of divisive and even conflicting information all at once, then you could be looking at the work of a bot.

Having a look to find out whether the video has been shared before and in what context can also help to steer clear of false content. Always check whether a source is verified: this is one of the best ways to steer clear of both bot and human purveyors of misleading content.

The Takeaway: Avoiding Getting Sucked in by a Social Media Fake Video on the Israel-Hamas Conflict

Spotting a fake video on social media is harder than ever before. Content that looks authentic may actually use stock footage, be entirely AI-generated, or even derive from a video game. It’s important to always question the source of social media content: is it an authority source? What is their intention in posting the video? Has it been shared before? 

With tensions running high and fake videos likely to cause distress as well as spread disinformation, it’s crucial not to take what we see on social media at face value.