Israel Police Combat Election Interference Operations Within the Country

Israel Police's "Matspan" unit is actively working to thwart influence operations and protect the integrity of upcoming elections, focusing on domestic actors attempting to manipulate the electoral process. This effort will intensify on election day, continuing until polls close at 10 PM. The unit, part of the Intelligence Division and National Cyber Unit, recently removed two networks engaged in illicit online activities from X and Facebook. The "Yashr!" party, associated with Gadi Eisenkot, filed a complaint after a public message from their party was reportedly falsified by anonymous sources. According to the police, internal Israeli actors employ sophisticated tactics, including creating fake profiles, impersonating others, and spreading AI-generated videos, fake news, and defamatory or supportive comments to influence voters. Police acknowledge they can only address a fraction of these operations and emphasize that perpetrators face potential jail time or heavy fines. While currently focused on monitoring and disrupting influence campaigns, the unit typically monitors social media for incitement to violence and terrorism against Israel. A senior official stated that the unit has been engaged in election integrity efforts for six months, working around the clock to identify and neutralize operations aimed at boosting or discrediting candidates and parties. When illicit activity is identified, the police collaborate with the State Prosecutor's Office Cyber Department to request platform operators remove the offending content.