The Gaza-Israel conflict has become a fertile ground for disinformation and information warfare campaigns. These campaigns aim to create fear, and panic, and manipulate the Israeli public while influencing international public opinion.
Hamas and other actors have been employing social media bots to disseminate dangerous misinformation and incite fear among Israeli citizens, according to a new report from the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center (ICRC). This development has raised concerns about the impact of fake news and disinformation in times of crisis, as well as its potential influence on international public opinion.
Israel targeted by fake news
Since October 7, a range of actors, using both authentic and fake social media profiles, has actively spread disinformation, violent, and incendiary content across social platforms with the goal of sowing panic and eroding trust in the Israeli government and military. These actors encompass pro-Palestinian users from various countries, including members or supporters of groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and notably, Iran, a known sponsor of Hamas, which has played a role in this disinformation campaign through coordinated false narratives, building on its history of information warfare against Israel on social media.
According to Israeli startup CHEQ, fake accounts and bots operated by nefarious actors have been working to amplify the conspiracy that insiders within Israeli security and intelligence agencies intentionally allowed the attack to occur. Furthermore, recent days saw the proliferation of faked recordings and voice messages shared via WhatsApp groups which falsely claimed that a high-ranking IDF officer recommended Israeli civilians stockpile groceries, cash, and fuel, leading to mass-buying and product shortages.
Misleading international public opinion
Misinformation campaigns have not been limited to Israeli audiences. Some narratives and messages have targeted international public opinion or local public opinion in key countries, such as the United States. One example of this lies in a forged White House press release falsely claiming that the Biden Administration authorized $8 billion in emergency aid to Israel, a move that garnered significant attention and was later debunked.
According to cyber intelligence startup Cyabra, one of the leading narratives put forward by Hamas’ social media campaigning aims to highlight Hamas' alleged humane and compassionate behavior as they took hostages. To achieve this portrayal, Hamas selectively extracts specific segments from videos captured during Saturday's tragic attack to construct a semblance of civility.
Putting safeguards in place
To effectively combat the growing menace of disinformation during times of conflict, the ICRC recommends several key strategies for Israel. First and foremost, enhancing cooperation with social media companies is of paramount importance. Building close partnerships, particularly with platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which have become breeding grounds for hostile pro-Hamas and anti-Israeli activity, is essential. Such collaboration is indispensable for the prompt detection and removal of inauthentic accounts and incendiary content that fuel the disinformation campaigns.
Furthermore, educating the public is a crucial facet of this battle against falsehoods. Israeli authorities must proactively inform citizens about the tactics used in influence operations and disseminate best practices for debunking false content. Equipping the populace with these tools is vital in helping individuals discern between accurate and unreliable information, ultimately fortifying society against disinformation's corrosive effects.
In addition to these measures, Israel can benefit from establishing a network of governmental and non-governmental organizations dedicated to identifying and countering misleading information before it gains widespread traction. Drawing inspiration from successful efforts in other regions, such a collaborative network will be instrumental in the fight against information warfare, helping protect the integrity of information during times of conflict.