Report: Israel targeted U.S. lawmakers through hundreds of fake social media accounts

WASHINGTON — Israel organized a campaign secretly targeting U.S. lawmakers and the American public with pro-Israel content through hundreds of fake social media accounts to build support amid its conflict against Hamas in Gaza, according to a New York Times report. 

The New York Times, citing unnamed officials and documents, reported that the campaign, which began last year, was commissioned by Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, which connects Jews from other countries with the State of Israel. It remains active on X, formerly Twitter.

Many of the posts were generated by ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, and included content urging lawmakers to continue funding Israel’s military, according to the Times. Some of the lawmakers targeted include Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research organization, said last week that they disrupted some of the social media accounts linked to a for-profit organization in Israel.

Though President Joe Biden has reiterated its support for Israel, he said last month that he wouldn’t supply weapons to the country if it launches a major invasion of Rafah.

Last week, the Biden administration said Israel’s deadly operation that killed at least 45 people in the Gaza strip didn’t constitute a major ground incursion that crosses U.S. red lines.

Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy and Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Report: Israel targeted U.S. lawmakers through fake accounts