Anonymous Poll Targeting Arab Voters Linked to Channel 14 Affiliate
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The organization Fake Reporter has petitioned the Central Elections Committee to reveal the sponsor of an anonymous online poll distributed to Arab voters, alleging it's a manipulative tactic. The poll, hosted by Next Data, a company linked to Channel 14's owners, focused on the Ra'am party and included questions designed to discourage support. Fake Reporter argues this is disguised election propaganda, not a genuine survey, and seeks transparency regarding its funding and origins.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Fake Reporter petitioned the Central Elections Committee to reveal the sponsor of an anonymous poll targeting Arab voters.
- The poll, distributed via SMS, appeared on the website of Next Data, linked to media group Channel 14.
- Questions in the poll focused on the Ra'am party and its alleged candidate Yoav Seglovitz, aiming to influence voters.
- The organization claims the poll is a 'Push Poll' designed to disrupt public opinion and suppress votes.
- Next Data reportedly failed to respond to Fake Reporter's initial request for information.
- The Central Elections Committee chairman, Judge Noam Solberg, has been asked to order disclosure within 48 hours.
The organization Fake Reporter has filed a petition with the Central Elections Committee, demanding the disclosure of who commissioned and funded an online poll distributed to Arab voters. The organization alleges that the poll, which appeared on the website of Next Data, a company established by the media group that owns Channel 14, is not a genuine survey but a manipulative attempt to influence voters and discourage them from supporting Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas.
Next Data's website hosted the questionnaire, which was sent via SMS messages in Arabic starting September 25. The messages did not identify the poll's sponsor or funder. The poll's questions focused on Ra'am, including a claim that Yoav Seglovitz, former head of the Police Investigations Department, was placed second on the party's list. Participants were asked how this would affect their voting intention, with one question specifically linking Seglovitz's alleged support for the LGBTQ+ community to their decision to vote for Ra'am.
Fake Reporter argues that these questions are designed to instill reservations about Ra'am among Arab voters, leveraging Seglovitz's background and alleged stances. The organization describes this tactic as a 'Push Poll' or 'Bias Poll,' intended to deliver political messages rather than conduct neutral public opinion research. The petition notes grammatical errors in the Arabic message as further evidence of questionable origins.
Fake Reporter previously contacted Next Data on October 1 demanding information about the poll's commissioner, funders, question drafters, and distribution methods. The company reportedly did not respond by the October 4 deadline. The organization is now asking the Central Elections Committee chairman, Judge Noam Solberg, to order Next Data to reveal within 48 hours the identity of the entity that commissioned the messages and questionnaire, and the party or group on whose behalf they acted.
Fake Reporter stated that the distribution to the Arab public is a deliberate attempt to disrupt public opinion and suppress votes within the Arab sector, emphasizing that transparency is crucial for protecting election integrity and the democratic process. The Central Elections Committee will now decide whether the poll constitutes legitimate research or disguised election propaganda.
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