Anything Netanyahu is for, the Left is against. This is such a tale…
Last year, the Diaspora Affairs Ministry launched a controversial campaign using fake social media accounts to influence US lawmakers and the American public with pro-Israel messaging. This operation, as reported by The New York Times, was confirmed by four current and former members of the ministry, along with documents detailing the campaign’s activities.
NEW: Tel Aviv Covertly Targeted US Lawmakers with Fake Social Media Accounts to Spread Pro-Israel Propaganda — NYT
A covert campaign, commissioned by Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, was organized and funded last year to influence US lawmakers and the American… pic.twitter.com/2Hw9fy8IfI
— HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) June 5, 2024
The campaign aimed to garner public support for Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. It initially came to light in March through an Israeli media watchdog, FakeReporter, but the recent report by The Times establishes a direct connection between the effort and the Israeli government. The ministry contracted Tel Aviv marketing firm Stoic for $2 million to execute the operation. At its peak, the campaign utilized hundreds of fake accounts posing as Americans. These accounts focused their efforts on influencing Black and Democratic representatives, urging them to continue approving military aid to Israel.
One of the key tools employed in the campaign was the AI chatbot ChatGPT, which was used to generate posts. These posts were disseminated through various fake English-language news sites, which published pro-Israel articles to bolster the campaign’s narrative. The strategic use of artificial intelligence allowed the operation to produce a significant amount of content designed to shape public opinion subtly and persuasively.
The campaign’s tactics included creating convincing social media personas and fabricating news sites to lend an air of credibility to the pro-Israel messages. These actions were part of a broader effort to sway US public opinion and legislative support in favor of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. By targeting specific groups and representatives, the campaign sought to amplify its impact and ensure that key decision-makers were exposed to its messaging.
NYT scoop: Israel has been running a covert $2 million campaign using “hundreds of fake accounts” to promote its views and target U.S. lawmakers.
Also created three fake English-language news sites.
All backed by Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. https://t.co/5F5rCidPEQ
— Niall Stanage (@NiallStanage) June 5, 2024
The revelation of this campaign raises ethical concerns about the use of deceptive practices in political advocacy. The use of fake accounts and AI-generated content to influence public opinion and policy discussions undermines the transparency and trust that are essential in democratic societies. Such tactics not only distort the public discourse but also risk damaging the credibility of the entities involved.
In response to the operation, social media firm Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has taken action to disrupt the campaign. According to The Times, Meta has been actively working since last week to identify and remove the fake accounts and posts associated with the operation. This intervention highlights the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in policing deceptive practices and maintaining the integrity of their ecosystems.
Israel's Diaspora Affairs Ministry commissioned an influence campaign primarily aimed at Black lawmakers and young progressives in the U.S. and Canada that used fake sites and accounts to promote posts that served the Israeli narrative, Haaretz reports: https://t.co/YKzPeui7EG
— Evan Hill (@evanhill) June 5, 2024
The involvement of government resources in such a campaign further complicates the issue. It brings into question the ethical boundaries of state-sponsored influence operations and the responsibility of governments to uphold transparent and honest communication practices, both domestically and internationally. The use of taxpayer money to fund a covert campaign also raises accountability issues within the Israeli government.
Major Points:
- The Diaspora Affairs Ministry employed a $2 million campaign using fake social media accounts to influence US lawmakers and the public with pro-Israel messaging.
- The campaign targeted Black and Democratic representatives, urging them to continue approving military aid to Israel amid the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
- Stoic, a Tel Aviv marketing firm, was contracted to carry out the operation, which included using hundreds of fake American accounts and an AI chatbot to generate posts.
- The campaign also involved creating fake English-language news sites with pro-Israel articles to bolster its narrative and credibility.
- Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken steps to disrupt the operation by identifying and removing fake accounts and posts associated with the campaign.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News