There is a nod among the warring parties that to keep their heads up, eyes may need to be closed. Worried about missiles hitting morale in addition to structures, all sides in the Gulf war are cracking down on people posting images of post-strike destruction. Strongly denying successful enemy action, the only superpower involved moved a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier away from the battlefield, laying it aside for 14 months to deal with what it claims were laundry room fires and blocked toilets. A curious counterpoint to this blur is that Iran, which has imposed a near-total internet shutdown, is releasing selective images of heartbreaking bereavements and funerals. Viewers wary of AI making the incomplete picture more believable should heed the old adage: verify before you believe.
