A network of social media accounts linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been found to manipulate public opinion by posing as Scottish and Irish profiles. These accounts shifted from local political content to pro-Iranian propaganda following the onset of conflict involving Iran, utilizing stolen and AI-generated images.

• 01Clemson University's Media Forensics Hub identified a network of accounts linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) masquerading as Scottish and Irish social media users.
• 02The accounts initially focused on local political issues, including Scottish independence, before pivoting to promote pro-Iranian content amid escalating conflict.
• 03Researchers noted that many profiles used stolen or AI-generated images, with some accounts inadvertently revealing their true origins through language mistakes.
• 04Europol has shut down thousands of IRGC-affiliated accounts in a crackdown on their online influence operations across 19 countries.
• 05The IRGC was designated as a terrorist organization on February 19, empowering authorities to dismantle its online presence.

The exposure of these deceptive accounts highlights the vulnerability of social media to foreign influence operations, which can mislead public opinion.