Otzma Yehudit Party Accused of Running Bot Campaign Against Rivals

The Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is reportedly operating an influence campaign on social media using over 100 bots. These bots, which impersonate Israelis and utilize AI-generated profile pictures, are designed to amplify the party's messages while systematically attacking leaders of coalition parties and even allies within Ben-Gvir's own bloc, according to an investigation by the organization "Fake Reporter".

The investigation claims these bot accounts are linked to the office of Ofer Rosenbaum, the party's campaign manager. The bots allegedly engage in coordinated attacks on posts, often repeating identical messages in various forms to create a false sense of consensus. Examples cited include bots attacking Channel 14 for criticizing Ben-Gvir, labeling the channel's staff as "mercenaries for Netanyahu," and bots undermining the political campaigns of figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Ofir Winter.

Nir Rosen, CEO of Fake Reporter, stated that the increasing use of bots and fake profiles ahead of elections is a cause for concern, potentially violating election propaganda laws and requiring investigation by the Central Elections Committee. He warned that such inauthentic activity deceives the public and erodes trust, urging citizens to be vigilant about the source of online content.

In response, the office of Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir dismissed the report, calling Fake Reporter a tool of the "extreme left" funded by foreign money seeking to interfere in Israeli elections. They drew a parallel to previous accusations before the last election, asserting that the public ultimately decides at the ballot box and that their party will continue to succeed despite such criticism.