Investigation Reveals Use of Bots in Israeli Political Discourse

A recent investigation by Channel 12 news has revealed that approximately half of the politically active accounts on Israeli social media are bots, many of which are employed to amplify posts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition. The report indicates that these bots are utilized to "like" and share content almost immediately after it is posted, thereby influencing social media algorithms to promote such content to a wider audience.

Times of Israel

The investigation highlights specific instances where bot activity is evident. For example, Jonathan Hasidim from the Scooper research group noted that when Netanyahu posts a video, a significant portion of the initial shares comes from accounts located abroad, often within seconds of the upload. This pattern suggests a coordinated effort to create the illusion of widespread support for the Prime Minister's messages. The report also points to negative posts about the Brothers in Arms protest group and reactions to the death of policeman 1st Sgt. Niv Peretz as examples of content that received disproportionate positive engagement due to bot activity.

Times of Israel

The report categorizes the bots into two types: primitive bots, which are easily identifiable, and more sophisticated bots that utilize advanced artificial intelligence, making them harder to distinguish from real users. While some bots are primarily used for data collection, others are explicitly designed to manipulate social media feeds to favor certain narratives.

Times of Israel

Experts express concern over the implications of bot usage in political discourse. The report cites instances where bots have been used to spread libel against public figures, including anti-government protest leader Shikma Bressler and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Hasidim noted that while there is evidence of organized bot campaigns supporting Netanyahu, similar campaigns were not found in the opposition, specifically regarding figures like Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

Times of Israel

In response to the findings, there has been no official comment from Netanyahu's office regarding the allegations of bot usage. However, the investigation raises questions about the ethical implications of using such tactics in political communication and the potential impact on public perception and discourse.

Times of Israel

While the investigation presents a compelling case for the prevalence of bots in Israeli political discourse, it does not provide a comprehensive analysis of the broader implications for democracy or the effectiveness of such strategies in influencing voter behavior. Additionally, the report does not quantify the exact impact of bot activity on specific political outcomes.

Times of Israel

• “When he posts a five-minute video in Hebrew, in the first 60 seconds, most of the shares are from abroad, and [those] posts happen within about five seconds,” — Jonathan Hasidim, Scooper Research Group

Times of Israel

• “It’s a trend-graph that’s very characteristic of Netanyahu’s tweets.” — Jonathan Hasidim, Scooper Research Group

Times of Israel

• “Some of the bots are primitive and easily identifiable, but many of those are used to gather data rather than primarily to manipulate feeds, the report said.” — Channel 12 News Report

Times of Israel

This investigation underscores the growing concern regarding the manipulation of social media in political contexts, raising important questions about transparency and accountability in digital communication.

Times of Israel