Israeli-backed disinformation campaign promoted Reza Pahlavi on social media
Israeli government agencies reportedly coordinated a disinformation campaign on social media using AI-generated content, deepfakes, and fake accounts to promote Reza Pahlavi and encourage civil unrest in Iran during the 2024 conflict. The campaign, investigated by Haaretz and Toronto's Citizen Lab, employed native Farsi speakers to create fabricated support for restoring the Pahlavi monarchy.
What happened
According to reporting from Haaretz and investigations by Toronto's Citizen Lab, Israel's government conducted a coordinated disinformation campaign on social media to promote Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's former Shah. The campaign used artificial intelligence to generate messages, fake accounts with synthetic identities, and deepfake videos presented as organic Iranian sentiment.
Gila Gamliel, Israel's Minister of Innovation and formerly Minister of Intelligence, was identified as the main liaison between Israel's government and Reza Pahlavi following his 2023 visit to Israel. Native Farsi-speaking contractors were hired to operate fake accounts and amplify pro-monarchy messaging during the conflict between Iran and Israel.
Reported impact
The campaign aimed to amplify public support for restoring the Pahlavi monarchy in Iran and to encourage civil unrest during Iran's defense against the Israeli military offensive. The operation was part of a broader Israeli effort to influence public opinion across multiple languages.
Index analysis
Citizen Lab identified the network of fake accounts, which were tracked by social media researchers in Israel and abroad. The campaign employed avatars and fabricated online identities posing as Iranian citizens across social platforms.
Governance controls
According to reporting, the Israeli government entity or state-contracted private organizations managed the campaign's funding and operations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.