Thinking On Paper Iran War Propaganda: Lego, Call of Duty & The Battle For Young Minds
Iran posted an AI-generated LEGO propaganda video mocking Trump and Netanyahu. The White House fired back with Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and a Wii Sports video of Iranian military sites being destroyed.
A senior White House official told Politico they were "just grinding away on banger memes, dude."
A hundred million views later…
This is the AI slop propaganda war, playing out in public - mostly on Twitter - as the bombs drop, the drones fly and the smoke and mirrors of a confused story evolve.
Operation Epic Fury has killed hundreds, triggered one of the largest oil and energy shocks in history, and will reshape the Middle East - and global politics - for decades to come. This is the meme war that accompanies it.
We react to all of it. The Iran LEGO propaganda video. The White House GTA Iran meme. The deleted Call of Duty airstrike video. The Wii bowling Iran war clip.
Why did Iran use LEGO? Is this propaganda, or kids playing video game make believe? What does it mean when governments reach for children's toys and video game aesthetics to sell a real war to a generation raised on screens?
The answer is uncomfortable. It is a desensitisation of death. It is a military hiring video dressed as a meme.
This is part of our on-going AI and the War Machine Season.
Please enjoy the show.
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Timestamps
(00:00) What Is Propaganda?
(00:36) Iran Lego Propaganda Video
(02:45) Reaction
(06:55) Whitehouse GTA Iran War Video
(09:07) Epic Fury - US Wii Sports Video
(13:22) Call Of Duty Iran War Video