Ben-Gvir allegedly using bot network in campaign against political rivals
Ben-Gvir reportedly has ties to a coordinated network of more than 100 social media accounts used to target his political rivals.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party is accused of utilizing a network of over 100 social media accounts to target political rivals, according to an investigation by the FakeReporter organization. The accounts allegedly spread messages against members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Brig.-Gen.
Ofer Winter, and Channel 14. Some of the accounts reportedly used images and identities generated by artificial intelligence.
Ben-Gvir's office vehemently denied the allegations, accusing FakeReporter of being a left-wing organization funded by foreign money. The minister's office also claimed that the investigation was part of a pattern of attacks by radical left elements. They reiterated their previous claims that the allegations were fabricated during the previous election cycle.
Ofer Winter, the incumbent holding the same ministerial role, strongly condemned the report, stating that Ben-Gvir should be focusing on his ministerial duties rather than engaging in influence operations. Winter urged his party to bring about change and bring fresh faces to the Knesset, focusing on action and results rather than bots and declarations. The People of Israel Party, led by Winter, emphasized the need for new faces in the political landscape following the failures surrounding the October 7 incidents.
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