War-themed video game fuels wave of misinformation

In recent months, there has been a troubling trend of utilizing footage from the war-themed video game Arma 3 in misleading contexts related to the Russian offensive in Ukraine. These videos often carry “live” or “breaking news” labels to create an illusion of authenticity, leading to their widespread dissemination on social media and even being picked up by some news outlets. Researchers have underscored the significant potential for such misinformation to spread and deceive the public.

Claire Wardle, co-director of the Information Futures Lab at Brown University, noted, “The fact that it keeps happening is a reminder of how easy it is to fool people. As video game visuals become more sophisticated, computer-generated imagery (CGI) can, at a quick glance, appear real. People need to know how to verify imagery, including examining metadata to prevent these errors, especially within newsrooms.”

Arma 3, developed by Czech-based Bohemia Interactive, is a game that gives players the possibility to simulate military scenarios using aircraft, tanks, and various weapons. Gamers frequently upload gameplay footage on platforms like YouTube, making it readily available for misuse.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive!

For instance, under an Arma 3 video titled “Ukraine’s counteroffensive!”—which simulated a missile strike on a column of tanks—a user, mistaking it for genuine footage, commented, “We must ask Ukraine after this war to train NATO forces how to fight.”