Reuters: Iran's Efforts for Targeted and False News Dissemination

On Friday, December 9, Reuters reported that 71 websites publishing fake news have been identified as being linked to an organization based in Tehran, providing false information and news approved by the Islamic Republic in various languages to audiences in 15 different countries. According to the report, approximately half a million people are exposed to this fake news through these websites monthly, and over one million through social media associated with the mentioned sites. Reuters noted that officials from the Islamic Republic in Tehran and London declined to comment on this matter and stated that it could not comment on the affiliation of these websites with the Islamic Republic. The report states that the 71 identified websites are somehow connected to the 'International Union of Virtual Media' based in Tehran: either they have published videos and cartoons from this center or the online registration address and phone number match those of the mentioned center. This union states one of its goals on its website as 'countering arrogance and the activities of the Zionist front and Western governments.' Reuters also mentioned several other websites targeting audiences in Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, and even Russia, labeling them as affiliated with Iran. The news agency emphasized that in the internet warfare, attention is focused on Russia and its clear influence, while Iran is described as a smaller player compared to Russia, which has had 'destabilizing effects.' Reuters referred to an incident that occurred two years ago when a fake news story on one of the Iran-affiliated websites led Pakistan's Ministry of Defense to tweet a warning to Israel not to forget that Islamabad has nuclear bombs. Google and several social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, blocked hundreds of Iranian-affiliated accounts 'involved in spreading fake news' about three months ago. Reuters cited the website 'Nile Net Online,' which claims to provide news from the heart of Tahrir Square in Cairo to Egyptian audiences. However, this website, which publishes some fake news or accurate news aligned with the policies and messages of the Islamic Republic, has an incorrect phone number, and the office address listed on its Facebook page leads to a location in the middle of a street rather than a specific building. John Brennan, former CIA director, told Reuters that various countries are using such tactics related to information warfare, stating, 'Iranians are seasoned players in the cyber arena' and 'elements of intelligence services' are capable in online operations. Reuters also stated that analyses based on findings from two well-known cybersecurity firms, FireEye and ClearSky, show that these Iran-affiliated websites have been active intermittently since at least 2012. Previously, the Carnegie Endowment in the U.S. reported that security agencies in Iran have increasingly become skilled in cyber espionage and destructive attacks, with their actions targeting opponents of the Iranian government both inside and outside the country, civil institutions in Iran, and government, defense, commercial, and diplomatic organizations in the U.S., Israel, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. This report focused on the destructive actions of the Iranian government in cyberspace, noting that such offensive operations are carried out under the guise of misleading public accounts to allow the Iranian government to showcase its capabilities while evading responsibility for such actions. Iran has been recognized since 2012 for its involvement in breaches of several American banks, hacking a small dam near New York, and attempts to attack the accounts of Barack Obama's government officials. In April of this year, ten Iranian individuals and entities were sanctioned by the United States for hacking hundreds of American and international universities. Iran was also accused last October of involvement in cyberattacks on the accounts of some British parliament members.