Latest news with #TelAviv
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
AI-generated videos fuel falsehoods about Iran-Israel conflict
In recent days, videos generated by artificial intelligence have surfaced online purporting to show dramatic scenes from the Iran-Israel conflict, including an AI-generated woman reporting from a burning prison in Tehran and fake footage of high-rise buildings reduced to rubble in Tel Aviv. Other fabricated visuals depict a downed Israeli military aircraft. These clips, some which have racked up millions of views on platforms including X and TikTok, are the latest in a growing pattern of AI-generated videos that spread during major events. Researchers at Clemson University's Media Forensics Hub told CBS News that some of the content is being amplified on X by a coordinated network of accounts promoting Iranian opposition messaging — with the goal of undermining confidence in the Iranian government. Fabricated videos On Monday, Israel carried out strikes on several sites in Iran, including the notorious Evin Prison. Within minutes of the attack, a video began circulating on X and other social media platforms showing an explosion at the entrance. The video is grainy, black-and-white and appears to be security camera footage. But several visual anomalies indicate the footage may have been created using artificial intelligence, experts say, including an incorrect sign above the door and inconsistencies with the explosion. Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-founder of AI detection startup GetReal Labs, told CBS News he believes the video may have been generated by an AI image-to-video tool. Farid said recent advancements in technology have helped lead to more realistic-looking videos with easier ways to create and share them quickly. "A year ago it was [that] you could make a single image that was pretty photo realistic," Farid said. "Now it's full blown video with explosions, with what looks like handheld mobile device imaging." The video had been posted on X within minutes of the June 23 Israeli attack on the facility by an account that "bears marks of being inauthentic," according to Media Forensics Hub researchers. Iranian and Israeli officials have not commented on the authenticity of the video. Darren Linvill, co-director of the Media Forensics Hub, told CBS News another video, which depicted an AI-generated reporter outside the prison, is the "perfect example" of a coordinated network using AI to circulate false information to wider audiences. "It isn't doing anything that one couldn't do with previous technology, it's just doing it all cheaper, faster, and at greater scale," Linvill said. It's not clear who is behind the videos, Linvill said. Social media platforms' responses When asked about the AI-generated Iran-Israel videos on their platform, a TikTok spokesperson told CBS News the platform does not allow harmful misinformation or AI-generated content of fakes authoritative sources or crisis events, and has removed some of these videos. A spokesperson for X referred CBS News to their Community Notes feature, and said some of the AI-generated video posts have had Community Notes added to help combat the false information. As for how to avoid falling prey to videos created with AI, Farid said, "Stop getting your news from social media, particularly on breaking events like this." Hegseth slams Iran strikes initial assessment that contradicts Trump's take Young Cuban girl asks Trump to lift travel ban stopping her from joining mom in U.S. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez set for star-studded wedding in Venice
CBS News
8 hours ago
- CBS News
New Jersey teen who got stuck in Israel amid war with Iran finally returns home
New Jersey teen finally back home after getting stuck in Israel during war with Iran New Jersey teen finally back home after getting stuck in Israel during war with Iran New Jersey teen finally back home after getting stuck in Israel during war with Iran A New Jersey teen who was stuck in Israel as it exchanged missile strikes with Iran is finally back home. Abigail Inglis, 17, was living on a campus outside Tel Aviv as part of a two-month semester abroad program, but once war broke out, it was a week of trying to get home to Bergenfield. "I was like, I'm literally never leaving" Abigail was supposed to return to New Jersey on June 18. Instead, she was sending text messages to her worried mother reading "heavy missiles [right now]" and "in shelter." She showed CBS News New York's Jenna DeAngelis videos she captured of missiles overhead in the night sky. "It was definitely very, like, scary, but this was happening every night, multiple times a night," Abigail said. It became so frequent, she and her classmates slept in the shelter for a week. "These were the sirens we would hear every night that was basically telling us get to the shelter now," Abigail said, playing another video. At one point, the group had plans to leave on a flight out of the country, but it was canceled a short time later, Abigail says. "I actually texted my mom and I was like, I'm literally never leaving," she said. "It was, like, the best experience of my life" Hours later, Abigail was awakened from her sleep and rushed onto a boat to Cyprus to begin the long journey back to the United States. "Everyone was just, like, trying to get on as fast as they could and leave. It was very intense, and it was 16 hours," she said. "And then we finally got a flight from Cyprus to Athens, and then Athens to JFK ... I couldn't wait to get my bag at JFK and just go out those doors to see my family." "Not until she landed at JFK and I saw her and I grabbed her did I realize that, like, she was really back," mom Jocelyn Inglis said. Abigail returned home with an Israeli flag signed by all her new friends from the semester abroad program. She plans to hang it up in her room. "It was, like, the best experience of my life. Through everything that happened at the end, it didn't change my love for Israel," she said. "Anytime I could, I would love to go back."
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
UK eases Israel travel advice as evacuation effort winds down
The government has loosened its travel advice for Israel, as a final evacuation flight for British nationals is set to depart from Tel Aviv on move comes after Israel reopened its skies for commercial air travel following a ceasefire agreement that ended a 12-day conflict with Iran. After missile exchanges between the two countries began, the foreign office had advised against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Friday, the government eased its guidance to advise against all but essential travel to most parts of Israel, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. It still advises against all travel to parts of northern Israel, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, and to all of foreign office said a sixth evacuation flight from Israel for British nationals was scheduled for this weekend and would be the last, amid falling demand as commercial options increase."The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority," a spokesperson said."The government has organised multiple flights evacuating British nationals and their dependants from Tel Aviv, prioritising the most vulnerable. These flights will end if there is not sufficient demand."The UK has already stopped providing onward transport options for British nationals who have crossed Israel's land borders into Jordan and Egypt.A US and Qatar-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect on Tuesday, but in its advice to travellers, the foreign office acknowledged the situation was "fragile... with the potential to deteriorate further".The government said it would keep the situation under conflict began on 13 June when Israel bombed nuclear sites and military targets in Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile strikes. Following 12 days of back-and-forth attacks, Iran's health ministry said 610 people had been killed, and Israel's health ministry said 28 people had been nationals left stranded when Israeli airspace was closed due to the conflict were urged to register their presence with the UK government. On Monday, Downing Street said about a quarter of the 4,000 people who had registered their presence in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories had asked for a seat on an evacuation flight.
CBS News
12 hours ago
- CBS News
AI-generated videos are fueling falsehoods about Iran-Israel conflict, researchers say
In recent days, videos generated by artificial intelligence have surfaced online purporting to show dramatic scenes from the Iran-Israel conflict, including an AI-generated woman reporting from a burning prison in Tehran and fake footage of high-rise buildings reduced to rubble in Tel Aviv. Other fabricated visuals depict a downed Israeli military aircraft. These clips, some which have racked up millions of views on platforms including X and TikTok, are the latest in a growing pattern of AI-generated videos that spread during major events. Screenshots taken by CBS News. CBS News Researchers at Clemson University's Media Forensics Hub told CBS News that some of the content is being amplified on X by a coordinated network of accounts promoting Iranian opposition messaging — with the goal of undermining confidence in the Iranian government. Fabricated videos On Monday, Israel carried out strikes on several sites in Iran, including the notorious Evin Prison. Within minutes of the attack, a video began circulating on X and other social media platforms showing an explosion at the entrance. The video is grainy, black-and-white and appears to be security camera footage. But several visual anomalies indicate the footage may have been created using artificial intelligence, experts say, including an incorrect sign above the door and inconsistencies with the explosion. Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-founder of AI detection startup GetReal Labs, told CBS News he believes the video may have been generated by an AI image-to-video tool. Farid said recent advancements in technology have helped lead to more realistic-looking videos with easier ways to create and share them quickly. "A year ago it was [that] you could make a single image that was pretty photo realistic," Farid said. "Now it's full blown video with explosions, with what looks like handheld mobile device imaging." The video had been posted on X within minutes of the June 23 Israeli attack on the facility by an account that "bears marks of being inauthentic," according to Media Forensics Hub researchers. Iranian and Israeli officials have not commented on the authenticity of the video. Darren Linvill, co-director of the Media Forensics Hub, told CBS News another video, which depicted an AI-generated reporter outside the prison, is the "perfect example" of a coordinated network using AI to circulate false information to wider audiences. "It isn't doing anything that one couldn't do with previous technology, it's just doing it all cheaper, faster, and at greater scale," Linvill said. It's not clear who is behind the videos, Linvill said. Social media platforms' responses When asked about the AI-generated Iran-Israel videos on their platform, a TikTok spokesperson told CBS News the platform does not allow harmful misinformation or AI-generated content of fakes authoritative sources or crisis events, and has removed some of these videos. A spokesperson for X referred CBS News to their Community Notes feature, and said some of the AI-generated video posts have had Community Notes added to help combat the false information. As for how to avoid falling prey to videos created with AI, Farid said, "Stop getting your news from social media, particularly on breaking events like this."
Irish Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Netanyahu asks court to suspend corruption trial so he can focus on possible Gaza ceasefire
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has said efforts are being made with the US to follow the military victory over Iran with a regional diplomatic initiative to end the war in Gaza and expand regional peace agreements. Mr Netanyahu said: 'We've been working on it energetically. Along with releasing our hostages and defeating Hamas , there is an opportunity, a window of opportunity has opened, and it can't be missed. Not even a single day can be wasted.' Mr Netanyahu asked the Tel Aviv district court to suspend proceedings in his corruption trial for two weeks so that he can devote more time to a possible ceasefire deal. The court rejected the request. US president Donald Trump , in a bizarre social media post, recently called for the trial to end, writing: 'Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State.' READ MORE Mr Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – all of which he denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty. Mr Trump's message appeared to be linked to a wider push for regional peace and an effort to prepare public opinion in Israel for a move to pardon Mr Netanyahu. There was speculation in the Israeli media that the initiative for Mr Trump's message may have come from the prime minister's office. Opposition politicians and legal experts have criticised Mr Trump's comments as a blatant interference in Israel's internal affairs, but coalition members are considering the promotion of a Bill to cancel the trial. US officials have spoken in recent days of progress in efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire, noting that the defeat of Iran, the main backer of Hamas, has put extra pressure on the militant group. Senior Trump administration officials have urged Israel to send its negotiation team to Cairo next week, but Israeli officials have indicated such a move was premature. [ Two tribes: How Israel and Iran became enemies Opens in new window ] Israel is not willing to commit to an end to the war and Hamas refuses to disarm and agree that its leaders will leave Gaza as part of any deal. According to the Yisrael Hayom newspaper, as part of the emerging US plan to end the war, new countries including Saudi Arabia and Syria would join the Abraham Accords – the series of normalisation that Mr Trump's administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term. Oman, Qatar and Indonesia have also been mentioned as states that may join the Abraham Accords if the conflict ends. As part of the deal, Israel would be required to commit to supporting a future Palestinian state. According to the plan, after Hamas leaders are exiled, four Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, would be tasked with jointly governing Gaza and supervising reconstruction efforts. Gazans wishing to emigrate would be absorbed by several unnamed countries, even though no country has expressed a willingness to absorb Gaza residents. Gazans reacted angrily in February when Mr Trump suggested the US could develop Gaza and force Palestinians to go elsewhere. The plan drew global condemnation with Palestinians, Arab nations and the UN saying it would amount to ethnic cleansing. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage into Gaza. [ Why have oil prices not soared in wake of Israel and US bombing Iran? ] In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza. A large majority of people in Israel want the conflict to end. In the last month 20 soldiers have been killed. A poll on Friday showed that 59 per cent of Israelis support ending the war in a deal that would bring back all 50 remaining hostages, of whom 20 are believed to be alive.
