Israeli State Comptroller Warns Iran Exploits Social Media to Deepen Social Divisions

A new report by the Israeli State Comptroller reveals that Iran and other hostile foreign actors are using social media platforms to deepen social divisions within Israel and influence public opinion. The report highlights that in 2024, a foreign influence network named "Isnad" aimed to end the Gaza conflict under terms favorable to Hamas by shaping Israeli public discourse. This network disseminated thousands of messages through hundreds to a thousand fake profiles on the social media platform X between December 2023 and August 2024.

Additionally, an Iranian campaign went viral early in the Gaza war, promoting the narrative that Israel was committing "genocide" in Gaza. Iran and Hezbollah also sent approximately 5 million SMS messages to Israeli citizens, falsely warning them to seek immediate shelter, thereby causing public panic. According to data from the Internet Association and Technion, 56% of Israelis receive news via social media, making this digital influence particularly impactful.

The report criticizes the lack of coordinated government response, noting that relevant agencies, including the National Security Council, Shin Bet, the National Cyber Directorate, and others, have not sufficiently prioritized or updated their strategies to counter these threats. The State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman, emphasized the absence of a leading government body managing this challenge and warned that the upcoming 2026 elections present a fertile ground for foreign interference, especially with the rise of AI tools capable of generating highly credible fake identities and content rapidly.

Englman cautioned that without a structured national preparedness plan, these foreign influence attempts could undermine Israel's sovereignty and public trust in its democratic processes. The Central Elections Committee welcomed the report, acknowledging the ongoing threat of foreign influence beyond election periods and confirming that it is implementing the report's recommendations to strengthen election security amid evolving technological challenges.