Transmitting a flag state it is not legally registered under.

: In modern military strategy, a false flag operation is often a "sham" attack used to justify war or domestic crackdowns.

The term has also been popularized through various entertainment titles:

Experts distinguish between actual documented false flag operations and .

: Nazi Germany staged an attack on a German radio station, framing Polish forces to provide a public justification for the invasion of Poland.

: FFCTs often claim that real, verifiable tragedies—such as school shootings or terrorist attacks—are "staged" by the government using actors to manipulate public opinion or enact new laws.