Examining the Spread of Disinformation During the Israel-Gaza Conflict

The Israel-Gaza conflict has sparked a surge of false claims, conspiracy theories, and hateful content on social media platforms. As violence escalates in the region, it is important to understand who is behind this disinformation and the potential impacts it can have on the international community’s understanding of the conflict. By exploring the profiles and accounts responsible for spreading misleading information, we can shed light on the motivations and strategies employed in manipulating online conversations.

One alarming trend observed is the use of inauthentic accounts to distort the narrative surrounding the conflict. Numerous videos and posts depicting hostages have been met with false claims suggesting staged footage or misidentifying victims as soldiers rather than civilians. These attempts to undermine the violence against hostages not only deceive the public but also impede efforts to uncover the truth about what is happening on the ground. The proliferation of disinformation can hinder investigations into potential war crimes and further complicate the provision of aid to those affected.

It is essential to identify the sources of misleading posts, even though some are more apparent, such as celebrities unintentionally sharing inappropriate images. Some profiles pushing conspiracy theories have amplified misleading content on platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter), using old videos from different wars or even footage from video games. These accounts often display pro-Israel or anti-Muslim sentiments and show support for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, accounts originating from Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have posed as genuine individuals, sharing both humorous content and advocating for Palestine.

However, not all profiles can be easily categorized as genuine or inauthentic. Some accounts engage in a wide range of political topics, supporting Russian President Putin, discussing the war in Ukraine, and even mentioning former US President Donald Trump. Notably, these accounts are relatively new or have recently become more active. Both the Israeli government and Hamas militants have faced accusations of using “bot” networks in the past, which consist of either automated or real individuals assuming false identities to spread divisive or misleading ideas. Cyabra, an Israeli social media analytics company, estimates that one in five accounts discussing Hamas’ attacks since October 7th are fake, with some spreading misleading claims in support of the group.

Identifying inauthentic accounts can be challenging, particularly without access to information held by social media companies. Certain indicators, such as newly created profiles suddenly sharing a significant volume of divisive and contradictory content, suggest potential inauthenticity. However, conclusive determination requires cooperation from platforms themselves. Criticism of social media sites’ role in facilitating the spread of disinformation has grown, with the European Union investigating X for potential associations with terrorist, violent, and hateful content.

Former employees of Twitter (X) have expressed concerns about the company’s decreasing capacity to combat state-coordinated disinformation following layoffs after Elon Musk’s acquisition. Experts who specialized in handling specific regions, including the Middle East, have reportedly left the company. The response from X regarding these allegations remains unknown. However, the platform recently claimed to have removed numerous Hamas-affiliated accounts.

Similarly, TikTok has emphasized its commitment to curbing violent, hateful, and misleading content in relation to the current situation. Nonetheless, the spread of disinformation on social media can shape public perception of the conflict and exert pressure on decision-makers. It is crucial to analyze and monitor the disinformation landscape to ensure accurate information reaches the public, enabling an informed understanding of the Israel-Gaza conflict and facilitating appropriate actions from policymakers