The Team Behind a Pro-Iran, Lego-Themed Viral-Video Campaign
4 hours ago
- #AI propaganda
- #digital media
- #geopolitical conflict
- The YouTube channel Explosive News began posting political content in 2023 and gained traction in February 2024 with AI-generated Lego-style propaganda videos targeting the U.S. and Israel.
- These videos have amassed millions of views, been shared by Iranian and Russian state media, and co-opted by protesters, blending serious geopolitical themes with cartoonish visuals and trolling elements.
- Explosive News claims independence from the Iranian regime, describing itself as a student-led media team, though its videos have been reposted by state-affiliated outlets like Tasnim News.
- The team produces videos quickly using AI and editing tools, aiming to counter Western media narratives with flashy, poetic content, despite the videos' violent and mocking imagery.
- The concept of 'slopaganda'—AI-generated propaganda—is highlighted as a toxic, rapidly produced form of communication that personalizes messages, with Explosive News as a leading example.
- YouTube and Instagram removed Explosive News' accounts for policy violations, but the videos remain on other platforms, and the team is expanding its reach by switching to English and rebranding as Explosive Media.