Social media accounts known to be operated by the Islamic Republic with the aim of demoralizing Israelis have resurfaced with new names and identities, according to an Israeli online watchdog group.
FakeReporter identified about 60 profiles, most on Facebook, which accounted for over 18,000 posts across social media.
The “meticulously crafted identities” were produced by bots, Ynet reported on Jan. 1. Bots are automated programs that often mimic human behavior.
The accounts had disappeared from social media for months. Either they had been locked or temporarily deactivated.
Now they’re back, some with new names.
The reason they were shut down was to evade detection, according to FakeReporter.
Some of the profiles have built up long friend lists of Israelis. “These connections enable the profiles to easily spread hostile, inciting messages and amplify content that serves the network’s goals,” reported Ynet.
“This is a serious and troubling phenomenon. Foreign elements are successfully infiltrating Israeli networks to spy, incite and spread propaganda. Once exposed, they simply change the profiles’ identities without facing any consequences,” said Ahiya Schatz, CEO of FakeReporter.
Schatz criticized Meta, Facebook’s parent company, for failing to alert Israeli users about the profile changes or provide tools to defend against them, Ynet reported.
“If we were in the European Union, Facebook would be required to inform the public about what’s being done in this regard,” he said.
“But there’s no legislation or regulation in Israel, so the platforms choose not to share information with the public about those who endanger their safety,” he continued, adding that as a result the Israeli public “finds itself abandoned online.”
Some examples of old profiles that have resurfaced: “Daniel Oz” is now known as “David Abraham.” It has about 800 friends. “Maya Lee” is now “Maya Lipschitz.” Its profile picture is of a high school student in Canada.
Another, “Aliza Ariel,” with 6,000 followers, is back. So is “Shira Levi,” now a doctor. It has 2,400 followers.
Other suspicious profiles are “Avraham Moshe,” with 2,400 followers and “Keren Ovadya,” with 3,800 followers.
“Rebecca Elia” frequently changes its profile photo to feature different women and urges users to join a Telegram group called “Patriotic Israelis” that disseminates Iranian propaganda.
Fake profiles have become more convincing thanks to artificial intelligence, which produces correct Hebrew and creates graphics that make posts more impactful.