Shin Bet Dismantles Fake Profiles Amid Iranian Election Interference
Shin Bet and Israeli authorities dismantled fake profiles conducting foreign influence operations ahead of the elections, as TikTok and Microsoft report rising Iranian interference.
Shin Bet, the State Attorney's Office, and the Central Election Committee have dismantled fake social media profiles conducting foreign influence operations ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections.
Foreign Influence Operations and TikTok Transparency
As part of joint efforts to protect electoral integrity and thwart foreign interference, authorities removed the fraudulent accounts from digital platforms. Shin Bet stated that it will continue working with relevant agencies to safeguard the democratic process.
In its recent quarterly transparency report, TikTok announced the removal of violating content regarding election integrity in Israel. Between June 7 and September 5, the platform removed 45,311 videos violating policies on misinformation and AI-generated deceptive content. More than 99.7% of these contents were removed proactively before being reported. Additionally, 1,431 accounts impersonating Israeli elected officials and election candidates were taken down.
Iranian Interference and Microsoft Findings
According to investigations, Iran remains the primary actor conducting influence operations in Israel through multiple intelligence and cyber arms. A Microsoft report indicated that following October 7, the share of Iranian cyber attack resources targeting Israel surged from 23% to 43%.
Iranian operatives act with patience, establishing long-term fake profiles posing as Israelis, infiltrating closed WhatsApp groups, and amplifying polarizing messaging.
Experts warn that the ultimate objective of these malicious campaigns is not to determine election outcomes, but to discredit the entire democratic electoral process using residual infrastructure from previous cycles.
