Story perspectives

Israeli Diaspora Ministry Deploys $2M Fake Social Media Campaign

8/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs launched a covert $2 million campaign in October 2023 targeting U.S. lawmakers and the public.
The ministry hired Stoic to use fake X, Facebook and Instagram accounts that posted pro-Israel comments to Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Raphael Warnock, and to create three fake news sites.
Meta and OpenAI disrupted the effort last week, prompting the New York Times to verify the Israeli government’s role.

1 of 1

Story summary

Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs launched a covert $2 million campaign in October 2023 targeting U.S. lawmakers and the public.
The ministry hired Stoic to use fake X, Facebook and Instagram accounts that posted pro-Israel comments to Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Raphael Warnock, and to create three fake news sites.
Meta and OpenAI disrupted the effort last week, prompting the New York Times to verify the Israeli government’s role.