READ THE STATEMENT · PLATFORMS
YouTube Called the Pro-Iran Lego Videos Spam. TikTok Said Nothing.
(Canada estimates at least 83 million people saw the videos in March. More saw them on TikTok than anywhere else.)
By Ethan Ward · Oct. 22, 2026
In March, a group called Explosive Media filled YouTube, TikTok, and X with AI-made videos of Lego-style figures mocking President Donald Trump during the U.S.-Iran war. A Canadian government report says the group is likely linked to Saeed Jalili, whom it describes as the Supreme Leader’s representative on Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. YouTube shut the channel down March 27 and told AFP why on April 15.
THE STATEMENT · YOUTUBE · APRIL 15, 2026 · TO AFP
“We terminated the channel for violating our spam, deceptive practices and scams policies,” a YouTube spokesman told AFP, without elaborating. (1. YouTube’s spam policy doesn’t mention governments or influence campaigns. When YouTube took down an earlier Explosive Media channel, the group said the reason given was “violent content.”)
The channel was suspended on March 27, he added. (2. In March, a YouTube spokesperson told Forbes the company removes content linked to a “coordinated influence operation.” That phrase isn’t in this statement.)
YouTube’s statement, as reported by AFP and published by Al-Monitor. The article’s photo is cut from the screenshot.
SCREENSHOT: AL-MONITOR, APRIL 15, 2026
Our notes
Canada’s Rapid Response Mechanism estimates “at least 83 million users globally viewed the videos in the first month of the U.S.-Iran conflict,” and likely 200 million saw at least one AI Lego-style video in March. Its chart shows views on TikTok outpaced every other platform.
Meta, TikTok, and X didn’t respond to Forbes’ requests for comment in March. We found no public statement from TikTok since.
Explosive Media switched to English-language AI videos with Lego-style figures on March 7, according to the Canadian report. Before that, Iran’s state-run Revayat-e Fath institute released a Lego-style video on state television after the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli attacks.
Reposts are still on YouTube. A search on Oct. 18 turned up channels named “Explosive Iran” and “Explosive media videos.” We couldn’t confirm who runs them.
YouTube’s label for government-funded channels covers news publishers. It doesn’t cover a group like Explosive Media.
What you can do
On YouTube, click More below the video, then Report, and pick the reason that fits. YouTube’s instructions.
On TikTok, tap Share or press and hold the post, then tap Report. TikTok’s rules ban covert influence operations. TikTok’s instructions.
Check for a label: YouTube’s information panel under the video, or TikTok’s “state-controlled media” label on the profile. Both only cover outlets the platforms have already identified, so no label doesn’t mean no government behind it.
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How we reported this
YouTube’s statement is from AFP’s April 15 report, as published by Al-Monitor. We read Global Affairs Canada’s Rapid Response Mechanism report on Explosive Media, YouTube’s policies on spam and information panels, and reporting by Forbes, The National, and Al Jazeera. We searched YouTube for reposts on Oct. 18.
We asked TikTok for comment on Oct. 18. It didn’t answer by Oct. 21.
Rejected, suspended, or flagged for no reason? Tell me what happened.
The notice rarely says AI. It says “not selected” or “account suspended.” I read every tip myself.
