As the team from Canada’s only cybersafety foundation briefed me on disinformation campaigns from the current conflict in the Middle East, it was immediately evident that asymmetric information warfare is being waged with increased sophistication in cyberspace.

Surprisingly, while Hamas and Israel engage in brutal military battles, Western and European countries – and specifically Internet users – are the targets of influence operations for the ‘hearts and minds’ of the public, with:

  • Digitally altered or enhanced videos shared on Telegram
  • Crisis communications and PR campaigns to stir up support for war
  • Online ads using misinformation to create moral outrage on social media
How Disinformation Uses Online Ads Chat Groups and Mainstream Media to Reach Users 2

It all amounts to a demonstrably great reason to stay well clear of sketchy group chats and use a trustworthy ad blocker, but also to verify all sources and exercise professionalism when discussing topics where the truth is often under attack.

Israel floods social media to shape opinions around the war
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