The Lego Ayatollahs: Iran’s AI Propaganda War

Propaganda once relied on stiff speeches, state television, and blunt political slogans. Today, it can arrive as a catchy rap song, a viral meme, or a Lego animation shared across millions of screens. In this episode, we explore how Iran is using artificial intelligence and internet culture to wage a new kind of information war against the United States—one built not on traditional ideology, but on humor, irony, and algorithm-friendly content. From mocking political leaders to amplifying American scandals, these videos blur the line between entertainment and influence, spreading through social media with the polish and style of grassroots online creators. We examine how familiar memes and cultural tropes allow authoritarian messaging to travel farther than ever before, and why cheap digital tools are reshaping global propaganda. The story reveals a rapidly changing battlefield where attention itself has become the prize—and where influence may belong to whoever best understands the internet’s language.https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/04/17/in-the-ai-propaganda-war-iran-is-winning