Beyond textual disinformation: Comparing the effects of textual disinformation to AI-generated and video-based visual disinformation across different issues

Although visual and AI-generated disinformation have been associated with alarming political consequences, we currently lack a clear empirical understanding of the effects of different forms of visual disinformation. Against this background, we rely on a pre-registered experimental study in the United States (N = 982) in which we exposed participants to various modes of textual and visual disinformation on two different issues: The disappearance of flight MH370 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Findings show that, for MH370, there was no difference in credibility between textual, AI-generated, or video-based disinformation. Yet, for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, video-based disinformation was perceived as more credible than textual or image-based disinformation. Our findings indicate that the consequences of visual disinformation are context-bound: Especially in the case of polarizing issues, the out-of-context placement of videos can serve as a plausible form of deceptive evidence.