Right-Wing Propaganda Machine Leverages WhatsApp, Telegram Channels
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Ahead of elections, right-wing campaigns are using WhatsApp and Telegram groups to distribute messages directly to hundreds of thousands of users. Researchers observed Benjamin Netanyahu's messages being copied and spread instantly through these channels, bypassing traditional media.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Right-wing campaigns are using WhatsApp and Telegram for direct message distribution.
- Hundreds of thousands of users receive information instantly via these platforms.
- Benjamin Netanyahu's messages were observed being copied and spread.
- This method bypasses traditional media and other campaign channels.
In the final hours before polls open, a significant new channel for political campaigning has emerged, dominated by the right-wing of the political map. This system utilizes WhatsApp and Telegram update groups to disseminate information directly from politicians to hundreds of thousands of users.
Researchers connected to 150 Telegram channels and WhatsApp groups observed how messages from Benjamin Netanyahu were copied and distributed without intermediaries, reaching mobile phones instantly. This direct-to-device method bypasses traditional media and other campaign channels like television, radio, billboards, SMS, recorded calls, and podcasts.
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