Unveiling the Culprits of Online Disinformation and Hate in Israel-Gaza Conflict

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has sparked a wave of false information, conspiracy theories, and hateful content on social media platforms. There are concerns about the use of inauthentic accounts to manipulate the conversation and shape public opinion. One example involved a TikTok video showing a young Israeli woman apparently being taken hostage by Hamas fighters, which was met with false claims and suggestions that the video was staged. Disinformation is not limited to undermining violence against hostages; accounts supporting the actions of the Israeli government have also shared misleading and hateful content. A video from 2017 was falsely shared, suggesting that Palestinian people were faking their injuries in Gaza. The spread of misleading posts and the distortion of the online conversation make it difficult to ascertain the truth on the ground and can have serious implications for international investigations, aid efforts, and understanding the situation. Some misleading posts can be traced back to identifiable sources, such as celebrities or accounts with a history of pushing conspiracy theories. However, many accounts and profiles are less obvious, with some belonging to real people who have shared a mix of political content. Recognizing inauthentic accounts is challenging but can sometimes be identified through certain patterns, such as sudden and consistent sharing of divisive and misleading content. However, determining the authenticity behind an account is a difficult task that often requires information from social media companies, which journalists may not have access to. Social media platforms have faced criticism for their role in spreading disinformation, with the EU investigating Twitter over the spread of terrorist content and hate speech. Former Twitter employees have noted the company's inability to effectively combat state-coordinated disinformation. The spread of disinformation on platforms like Twitter and TikTok can shape public opinion and influence decision-making during the conflict.