We Say You Want a Revolution: PRISONBREAK – An AI-Enabled Influence Operation Aimed at Overthrowing the Iranian Regime

This report exposes PRISONBREAK, a coordinated network of more than 50 inauthentic X accounts conducting an AI-enabled influence operation to incite revolt in Iran, synchronizing deepfake and manipulated content—most notably around the June 2025 Evin Prison strikes—with on-the-ground events. Using open-source analysis, the authors identify hallmarks of a professional operation (desktop/web posting, workday timing, shared registration traits), extensive AI media fabrication and impersonation of outlets (e.g., BBC Persian), seeding into X Communities, mutual resharing, and probable purchased engagement to inflate reach. The assessment concludes the campaign is most likely run by an Israeli government entity or closely supervised contractor and notes its continued efforts to exploit Iran’s water and energy crises.