Shayan Sardarizadeh
@shayan86.bsky.social
BBC Verify senior journalist | verification, AI, disinformation, conspiracy theories, open source investigations | [email protected]
And this is another similar video from 2024.
It claimed to show Ukrainian soldiers burn an effigy of Donald Trump. Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Team said the video was the work of Russia's Storm-1516 disinformation campaign.
It claimed to show Ukrainian soldiers burn an effigy of Donald Trump. Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Team said the video was the work of Russia's Storm-1516 disinformation campaign.
November 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
And this is another similar video from 2024.
It claimed to show Ukrainian soldiers burn an effigy of Donald Trump. Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Team said the video was the work of Russia's Storm-1516 disinformation campaign.
It claimed to show Ukrainian soldiers burn an effigy of Donald Trump. Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Team said the video was the work of Russia's Storm-1516 disinformation campaign.
Storm-1516 has produced similar fake videos of "Ukrainian soldiers" targeting senior Republicans in the past.
This fake clip, from earlier this year, shows "soldiers" burning the US flag along with masks of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham.
This fake clip, from earlier this year, shows "soldiers" burning the US flag along with masks of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham.
November 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Storm-1516 has produced similar fake videos of "Ukrainian soldiers" targeting senior Republicans in the past.
This fake clip, from earlier this year, shows "soldiers" burning the US flag along with masks of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham.
This fake clip, from earlier this year, shows "soldiers" burning the US flag along with masks of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham.
A viral online video, which claims to show "Ukrainian soldiers" threaten to kill Charlie Kirk's wife Erika Kirk, is fake.
Not only do the "soldiers" in the clip speak Ukrainian with a notably strong Russian accent, but it has hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign known as Storm-1516.
Not only do the "soldiers" in the clip speak Ukrainian with a notably strong Russian accent, but it has hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign known as Storm-1516.
November 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A viral online video, which claims to show "Ukrainian soldiers" threaten to kill Charlie Kirk's wife Erika Kirk, is fake.
Not only do the "soldiers" in the clip speak Ukrainian with a notably strong Russian accent, but it has hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign known as Storm-1516.
Not only do the "soldiers" in the clip speak Ukrainian with a notably strong Russian accent, but it has hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign known as Storm-1516.
If you search TikTok for Hurricane Melissa videos right now, you'll see a flood of AI-generated and fake videos.
These AI videos include eye of the storm views from above, sharks swimming in floodwaters, huge waves battering towns, destroyed airports, and fake news reports.
These AI videos include eye of the storm views from above, sharks swimming in floodwaters, huge waves battering towns, destroyed airports, and fake news reports.
October 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
If you search TikTok for Hurricane Melissa videos right now, you'll see a flood of AI-generated and fake videos.
These AI videos include eye of the storm views from above, sharks swimming in floodwaters, huge waves battering towns, destroyed airports, and fake news reports.
These AI videos include eye of the storm views from above, sharks swimming in floodwaters, huge waves battering towns, destroyed airports, and fake news reports.
The new Pentagon Press Corps will include conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' website Infowars.
It comes after the departure of most mainstream journalists over their refusal to sign up to the department's new restrictive policies on reporting.
It comes after the departure of most mainstream journalists over their refusal to sign up to the department's new restrictive policies on reporting.
October 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The new Pentagon Press Corps will include conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' website Infowars.
It comes after the departure of most mainstream journalists over their refusal to sign up to the department's new restrictive policies on reporting.
It comes after the departure of most mainstream journalists over their refusal to sign up to the department's new restrictive policies on reporting.
X has restored the account of Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys group.
McInnes's account was banned by Twitter in August 2018 ahead of the "Unite the Right 2" rally in Washington DC for "violating" its policies on violent extremism.
McInnes's account was banned by Twitter in August 2018 ahead of the "Unite the Right 2" rally in Washington DC for "violating" its policies on violent extremism.
September 21, 2025 at 5:48 PM
X has restored the account of Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys group.
McInnes's account was banned by Twitter in August 2018 ahead of the "Unite the Right 2" rally in Washington DC for "violating" its policies on violent extremism.
McInnes's account was banned by Twitter in August 2018 ahead of the "Unite the Right 2" rally in Washington DC for "violating" its policies on violent extremism.
This is reportedly the X account of Anibal Hernandez Santana, who's suspected of firing shots at a local ABC affiliate news station in Sacramento a day after ABC took Jimmy Kimmel off air.
His timeline features a slew of anti-Trump posts and calls to "fight" the president.
His timeline features a slew of anti-Trump posts and calls to "fight" the president.
September 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This is reportedly the X account of Anibal Hernandez Santana, who's suspected of firing shots at a local ABC affiliate news station in Sacramento a day after ABC took Jimmy Kimmel off air.
His timeline features a slew of anti-Trump posts and calls to "fight" the president.
His timeline features a slew of anti-Trump posts and calls to "fight" the president.
What do studies on far-right vs far-left political violence in ths US show? Short answer: It's complicated.
Most independent studies say the far-right commit more violence than the far-left, but as it's not easy to define motives and ideologies, it's hard to draw definitive conclusions.
Most independent studies say the far-right commit more violence than the far-left, but as it's not easy to define motives and ideologies, it's hard to draw definitive conclusions.
September 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
What do studies on far-right vs far-left political violence in ths US show? Short answer: It's complicated.
Most independent studies say the far-right commit more violence than the far-left, but as it's not easy to define motives and ideologies, it's hard to draw definitive conclusions.
Most independent studies say the far-right commit more violence than the far-left, but as it's not easy to define motives and ideologies, it's hard to draw definitive conclusions.
The US Justice Department appears to have removed from its website a study into political violence in America by the National Institute of Justice, the Justice Department’s research agency, which concluded that far-right extremism outpaced “all other types of domestic violent extremism”.
September 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The US Justice Department appears to have removed from its website a study into political violence in America by the National Institute of Justice, the Justice Department’s research agency, which concluded that far-right extremism outpaced “all other types of domestic violent extremism”.
Elon Musk has shared an obviously AI-generated image of the Unite the Kingdom rally in London.
The first AI error is that the Arc de Triomphe is in Paris, not London. And once you zoom in, you'll notice that the Union Jacks and the crowd have other errors typical of AI images.
The first AI error is that the Arc de Triomphe is in Paris, not London. And once you zoom in, you'll notice that the Union Jacks and the crowd have other errors typical of AI images.
September 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Elon Musk has shared an obviously AI-generated image of the Unite the Kingdom rally in London.
The first AI error is that the Arc de Triomphe is in Paris, not London. And once you zoom in, you'll notice that the Union Jacks and the crowd have other errors typical of AI images.
The first AI error is that the Arc de Triomphe is in Paris, not London. And once you zoom in, you'll notice that the Union Jacks and the crowd have other errors typical of AI images.
This is the video, first shared by Washingtonian Problems, which President Trump said "is probably AI".
I'd be very surprised if the video were AI-generated. All the details, including the White House, the US flag flying at half mast, the surrounding buildings and the shadows, appear genuine.
I'd be very surprised if the video were AI-generated. All the details, including the White House, the US flag flying at half mast, the surrounding buildings and the shadows, appear genuine.
September 3, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This is the video, first shared by Washingtonian Problems, which President Trump said "is probably AI".
I'd be very surprised if the video were AI-generated. All the details, including the White House, the US flag flying at half mast, the surrounding buildings and the shadows, appear genuine.
I'd be very surprised if the video were AI-generated. All the details, including the White House, the US flag flying at half mast, the surrounding buildings and the shadows, appear genuine.
We've analysed videos and writings by Robin Westman, the suspect in the Minneapolis school shooting.
Westman had a clear obsession with death and violence, and idolised mass shooters. Westman wrote references to nearly 20 mass murderers on weapons and ammunition used in the attack.
Westman had a clear obsession with death and violence, and idolised mass shooters. Westman wrote references to nearly 20 mass murderers on weapons and ammunition used in the attack.
August 29, 2025 at 12:46 AM
We've analysed videos and writings by Robin Westman, the suspect in the Minneapolis school shooting.
Westman had a clear obsession with death and violence, and idolised mass shooters. Westman wrote references to nearly 20 mass murderers on weapons and ammunition used in the attack.
Westman had a clear obsession with death and violence, and idolised mass shooters. Westman wrote references to nearly 20 mass murderers on weapons and ammunition used in the attack.
Following an update to Grok, which according to Elon Musk aimed to stop it from "parroting legacy media" and politically correct views, Grok called itself "MechaHitler", praised Hitler for stopping anti-white hatred, complained about "Jewish surnames", and posted about sexually assaulting a user.
July 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Following an update to Grok, which according to Elon Musk aimed to stop it from "parroting legacy media" and politically correct views, Grok called itself "MechaHitler", praised Hitler for stopping anti-white hatred, complained about "Jewish surnames", and posted about sexually assaulting a user.
Finally, high-resolution satellite images captured by Maxar Technolgoies on 22 June show six fresh craters - likely the entry points for US munitions - as well as grey dust and debris scattered down the mountainside - at Iran's Fordo enrichment facility after US strikes.
📷 Maxar
📷 Maxar
June 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Finally, high-resolution satellite images captured by Maxar Technolgoies on 22 June show six fresh craters - likely the entry points for US munitions - as well as grey dust and debris scattered down the mountainside - at Iran's Fordo enrichment facility after US strikes.
📷 Maxar
📷 Maxar
Before and after satellite images captured on 15 and 22 June by Maxar Technologies show a 5.5-metre diameter crater directly over Iran's Natanz enrichment facility after US strikes.
The site had been attacked twice before by Israel before a third strike by the US.
📷Maxar
The site had been attacked twice before by Israel before a third strike by the US.
📷Maxar
June 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Before and after satellite images captured on 15 and 22 June by Maxar Technologies show a 5.5-metre diameter crater directly over Iran's Natanz enrichment facility after US strikes.
The site had been attacked twice before by Israel before a third strike by the US.
📷Maxar
The site had been attacked twice before by Israel before a third strike by the US.
📷Maxar
Before and after satellite images captured on 16 and 22 June and relased by Maxar Technologies show damage to more buildings at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre after US strikes.
The facility had already been hit twice by Israel before a third attack by the US last night.
📷 Maxar
The facility had already been hit twice by Israel before a third attack by the US last night.
📷 Maxar
June 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Before and after satellite images captured on 16 and 22 June and relased by Maxar Technologies show damage to more buildings at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre after US strikes.
The facility had already been hit twice by Israel before a third attack by the US last night.
📷 Maxar
The facility had already been hit twice by Israel before a third attack by the US last night.
📷 Maxar
THREAD: New high-resolution satellite images released by Maxar Technologies show damage to three Iranian nuclear sites targeted by the US last night.
First, before and after images taken on 16 and 22 June show damage to multiple buildings at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre.
📷 Maxar
First, before and after images taken on 16 and 22 June show damage to multiple buildings at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre.
📷 Maxar
June 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
THREAD: New high-resolution satellite images released by Maxar Technologies show damage to three Iranian nuclear sites targeted by the US last night.
First, before and after images taken on 16 and 22 June show damage to multiple buildings at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre.
📷 Maxar
First, before and after images taken on 16 and 22 June show damage to multiple buildings at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre.
📷 Maxar
This image, which purports to show a US B-2 bomber after crashing or being shot down in Iran, is AI-generated and fake.
According to the US government, all the B-2 bombers used in the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites returned to the US.
According to the US government, all the B-2 bombers used in the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites returned to the US.
June 22, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This image, which purports to show a US B-2 bomber after crashing or being shot down in Iran, is AI-generated and fake.
According to the US government, all the B-2 bombers used in the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites returned to the US.
According to the US government, all the B-2 bombers used in the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites returned to the US.
We've been verifying dozens of social media videos documenting the conflict between Iran and Israel.
But not all videos being shared online claiming to show the strikes are real.
13s
But not all videos being shared online claiming to show the strikes are real.
13s
June 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
We've been verifying dozens of social media videos documenting the conflict between Iran and Israel.
But not all videos being shared online claiming to show the strikes are real.
13s
But not all videos being shared online claiming to show the strikes are real.
13s
AI chatbots are increasingly being used by online users as fact-checking tools.
But incorrect answers by ChatGPT and Grok are misleading users about the origin of photos showing National Guard troops, sent to Los Angeles during the recent unrest, sleeping on floors.
But incorrect answers by ChatGPT and Grok are misleading users about the origin of photos showing National Guard troops, sent to Los Angeles during the recent unrest, sleeping on floors.
June 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM
AI chatbots are increasingly being used by online users as fact-checking tools.
But incorrect answers by ChatGPT and Grok are misleading users about the origin of photos showing National Guard troops, sent to Los Angeles during the recent unrest, sleeping on floors.
But incorrect answers by ChatGPT and Grok are misleading users about the origin of photos showing National Guard troops, sent to Los Angeles during the recent unrest, sleeping on floors.
AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Grok are falsely claiming that two photos shared by Gavin Newsom, which he claimed to show National Guard troops sleeping on the floor in LA, were from 2021 in Afghanistan.
In fact, both photos were published in an exclusive report by the San Francisco Chronicle today.
In fact, both photos were published in an exclusive report by the San Francisco Chronicle today.
June 10, 2025 at 1:28 AM
AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Grok are falsely claiming that two photos shared by Gavin Newsom, which he claimed to show National Guard troops sleeping on the floor in LA, were from 2021 in Afghanistan.
In fact, both photos were published in an exclusive report by the San Francisco Chronicle today.
In fact, both photos were published in an exclusive report by the San Francisco Chronicle today.
This image claims to show an "Antifa debit card" being used by the left-wing group to fund protests and riots in LA.
There's no such thing as an Antifa debit card. The concept originates from a German satirical website, hence the German language on the card. It's not real.
There's no such thing as an Antifa debit card. The concept originates from a German satirical website, hence the German language on the card. It's not real.
June 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This image claims to show an "Antifa debit card" being used by the left-wing group to fund protests and riots in LA.
There's no such thing as an Antifa debit card. The concept originates from a German satirical website, hence the German language on the card. It's not real.
There's no such thing as an Antifa debit card. The concept originates from a German satirical website, hence the German language on the card. It's not real.
Viral posts falsely claim a pallet of bricks was ordered by "Soros-funded organisations" and deliberately placed near ICE sites. But the image is unrelated to the events in LA.
The image of the pallet has been lifted from the website of a Malaysian construction material supplier.
The image of the pallet has been lifted from the website of a Malaysian construction material supplier.
June 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Viral posts falsely claim a pallet of bricks was ordered by "Soros-funded organisations" and deliberately placed near ICE sites. But the image is unrelated to the events in LA.
The image of the pallet has been lifted from the website of a Malaysian construction material supplier.
The image of the pallet has been lifted from the website of a Malaysian construction material supplier.
An AI-generated video of a National Guard member filming himself on duty in LA and provoking the protesters is being shared on TikTok.
The video is fake. The odd badges on his uniform, traffic lights and buildings, and "LAPC" on the police car all give it away.
The video is fake. The odd badges on his uniform, traffic lights and buildings, and "LAPC" on the police car all give it away.
June 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
An AI-generated video of a National Guard member filming himself on duty in LA and provoking the protesters is being shared on TikTok.
The video is fake. The odd badges on his uniform, traffic lights and buildings, and "LAPC" on the police car all give it away.
The video is fake. The odd badges on his uniform, traffic lights and buildings, and "LAPC" on the police car all give it away.
This video has racked up millions of views and been shared by Texas Senator Ted Cruz and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
While there's very real footage of LA protesters setting multiple vehicles on fire on Sunday, this particular video is from the George Floyd protests in 2020.
While there's very real footage of LA protesters setting multiple vehicles on fire on Sunday, this particular video is from the George Floyd protests in 2020.
June 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This video has racked up millions of views and been shared by Texas Senator Ted Cruz and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
While there's very real footage of LA protesters setting multiple vehicles on fire on Sunday, this particular video is from the George Floyd protests in 2020.
While there's very real footage of LA protesters setting multiple vehicles on fire on Sunday, this particular video is from the George Floyd protests in 2020.