Iran Is the First War of the Social-Media Age. It's a Black Box.

The article focuses on the significant restrictions on press freedom during the current US-Israeli military engagement with Iran, contrasting it with the relatively open media access during the Vietnam War. Governments in Iran, Gulf states, and Israel have imposed strict controls on reporting, including internet blackouts, arrests for unauthorized filming, and military censorship, limiting independent journalism amid the conflict. The rise of artificial intelligence-generated misinformation further complicates the information environment, while media freedom rankings have declined sharply in the US and Gulf countries. These measures reflect broader efforts by involved governments to control narratives during a complex, multi-front war occurring in the social-media era. [Extracted from the article]