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Fake Social Media Accounts Promoted Netanyahu, Likud Party Ahead of Election, Report Says

Citing a report by Israeli watchdog group the Big Bots Project, the New York Times reported Sunday that a group of several hundred fake accounts actively boosted Netanyahu and smeared his opponents

Lilach Baumer 09:1301.04.19

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ruling party Likud could potentially be linked to a network of fake social media accounts that boosted their messages and smeared political opponents, the New York Times reported Sunday.

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The Likud party has been reached for comment but has yet to respond.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Amir Salman

In January, Likud took responsibility for an anonymous campaign targeting four high-profile Israeli journalists that covered news of the ongoing criminal investigations against Netanyahu.

Citing a report by independent Israeli watchdog group the Big Bots Project, the Times reported Sunday that while the group did not find direct links between the network and Netanyahu or Likud, it "appeared to operate in coordination" with Likud and Netanyahu's campaign. Messages posted by the fake accounts on Twitter or Facebook were often reposted by campaign officials, according to the report, and by Netanyahu's eldest son, Yair Netanyahu, who is heavily involved in his father's campaign.

The network, which comprised a few hundred accounts, was operated by real people and not bots, the report said. Overall, it accumulated over 2.5 million hits for its posts.