Israel used fake social media accounts to influence US politicians and the public with pro-Israel information during its fight with Hamas in Gaza, a recent report reveals.
An article from The New York Times states that Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, which connects Jews abroad to Israel, oversaw the effort last year. The campaign continues on X, formerly Twitter.
According to anonymous officials and research, ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, created much of the content. The tweets reportedly promoted Israeli military money, specifically targeting Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.
President Joe Biden has reaffirmed the US's support for Israel despite his recent declaration that he would not arm it in the event of an invasion of Rafah. Last week, the Biden administration denied that Israel's fatal assault in Gaza, which killed at least 45 people, crossed US red lines.
Social Media Campaign Used AI
ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, generated several campaign postings. The organization also created three bogus English-language news websites with pro-Israel material.
Four Ministry of Diaspora Affairs members and campaign papers confirmed the Israeli government's influence operation, which was previously unknown. In March, Israeli disinformation watchdog FakeReporter discovered the campaign.
Israel aimed to influence American opinion on the Gaza crisis through the undercover initiative. Many Americans have criticized President Joe Biden's $15 billion military aid plan for Israel despite the US's longstanding support for Israel. Increasing civilian fatalities in Gaza have prompted some to urge Mr. Biden to remove backing for Israel.
FakeReporter found that the campaign developed three fake news sites, including Non-Agenda and UnFold Magazine, that took and rewrote CNN and Wall Street Journal content to boost Israel's military stance.
Social media experts highlighted that this was the first time the Israeli government organized a campaign to influence the US. Coordinated actions are widespread globally, but experts admit they are hard to prove. It is believed that Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, and the US sponsor such global efforts, usually through private corporations or intermediaries.
Achiya Schatz, executive director of FakeReporter, described Israel's intervention as careless and likely useless, underscoring the irresponsibility of intervening in US politics.
Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs denied involvement in the campaign and denied ties to political marketing firm Stoic based in Tel Aviv. According to the report, the Israeli government has never coordinated a campaign against the US government.
Meta Takes Action
Last week, Meta said they disrupted some accounts involved in the campaign, USA Today reported. The bogus profiles had over 40,000 followers on X, Facebook, and Instagram, but Meta suspected many were bots, limiting their audience.
Politicians use social media campaigns to sway public opinion. In May, TikTok reported disrupting over a dozen similar attempts, including one from China.
Since October 7th, Israelis and Palestinians have used social media to rally support, much like in the Ukraine war. More than 37,000 Palestinians have perished under Israel's Gaza blockade, according to The Verge.
The United States is Israel's biggest ally and arms supplier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the US Congress this summer.
