AI war videos and hacked handles: X head of product Nikita Bier uncovers 31-account operation
A man based in Pakistan was running at least 31 accounts on X that shared AI-generated war videos, according to Nikita Bier, the platform’s head of product development. In a post on Wednesday, Bier said the accounts had been hacked and renamed on February 27 to variations of “Iran War Monitor.” The network pushed artificial intelligence-created clips tied to the ongoing conflict. “We are getting much faster at detecting this — and also eliminating the incentive to do this,” Bier wrote, adding that the operator was trying to cash in on X’s creator revenue-sharing programme. The accounts were not only impersonating Iran-related monitors but also posed as multiple “IDF Girl” profiles, which Bier said were also being run from Pakistan. In response, X announced tougher rules. Users who post AI-generated videos of armed conflicts without clearly disclosing they were made with AI will be suspended from the Creator Revenue Sharing programme for 90 days. Repeat violations will lead to permanent removal from the monetisation scheme. The issue comes amid the Iran war. While US, Israel and Iran are launching attacks on each other, there are several users on X who are spreading false news and rumors. The concerns about misinformation on the platform, particularly accounts originating from countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh that mimic legitimate users elsewhere. In November 2025, X introduced an “About This Account” feature that revealed several accounts posting political content about India were actually operating from outside the country.Bier also pointed to another account claiming to be a journalist in Gaza that was found to be sharing AI-generated material. Under X’s monetisation rules, creators must subscribe to X Premium, have at least 500 Premium followers, generate around five million impressions over three months and complete identity verification. Because payouts are made in US dollars, users in countries where the dollar holds greater value may be incentivised to produce sensational content designed to go viral.
