FakeReporter
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Hebrew. Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| Formation | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Achiya Schatz |
Official language | English, Hebrew |
CEO | Achiya Schatz[1] |
Key people | Roi Soussan (director of public affairs)[2] |
| Website | fakereporter |
FakeReporter (Hebrew: פייק ריפורטר) is an Israeli disinformation watchdog group founded in 2020 by Achiya Schatz.
History
FakeReporter was started in 2020 by Achiya Schatz with five friends.[3] Schatz started the organization after witnessing the toxicity of online attacks against Breaking the Silence, an Israeli NGO publishing testimony by IDF members about Israel's conduct in the Israeli-occupied territories.[4]
In 2021, FakeReporter reported on an Iranian disinformation campaign where Iranian agents infiltrated online spaces on WhatsApp and Telegram used by Israeli activists.[5] In December 2022, FakeReporter and Haaretz identified IDF soldiers as being behind two Twitter accounts used to harass left-wing activists and Israeli journalists since that November.[6] In 2023, a joint FakeReporter and CNN investigation of the Huwara rampage by Israeli settlers in February revealed that the IDF took little action during the rampage.[7]
FakeReporter has debunked online misinformation in the Gaza war, including footage falsely claimed to show Israeli children in cages in Gaza and claims that Israel had faked its own civilians' deaths in the Nova music festival massacre.[4][3] In 2024, FakeReporter reported on a network of fake social media accounts promoting Israeli government accusations that UNRWA is working with Hamas[8] and a disinformation campaign by Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs that targeted American lawmakers with pro-Israel messaging.[9][10]
During the 2025 Iran–Israel war, FakeReporter uncovered an Iranian influence network of 3,000 Twitter accounts posing as Israelis expressing opposition to the war and blaming Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[2]
Founder
Prior to starting FakeReporter, Schatz (born 1984 or 1985[4]) worked as a soldier for the IDF and as the spokesman for Breaking the Silence.[4] Schatz joined fellow reservists in a group protesting Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and participated in protests against Israeli government corruption in 2020.[3]
Schatz lives with his wife and their two children.[4][3] During the Gaza war, Schatz and his family moved to his in-laws' residence outside Tel Aviv.[4]
Operation
FakeReporter operates as a non-profit organization.[4] As of 2023, FakeReporter had 15 full-time members, with over 3,000 volunteers who flag images and videos suspected of being false and misleading. Trained experts then analyse the posts to determine if they are fake.[4] In 2024, the group started accepting reports in Arabic.[3]
FakeReporter tracks the activities of Israeli far-right groups.[7] Prior to the Gaza war, FakeReporter focused on helping people targeted with online harassment for speaking out against Israeli government corruption.[4]
During its first year, FakeReporter operated full-time and unpaid. In 2021, FakeReporter started relying on grants and donations to help fund its work.[3] FakeReporter receives funding from the New Israel Fund.[11]
References
- ^ Kabir, Omer (2025-01-19). "FakeReporter CEO: "Disinformation is destroying the world"". Calcalist. Archived from the original on 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ a b Dayan, Linda (Jun 19, 2025). "Israeli base under a hospital, Iranians running in Nepal: Fake news is shaping the war". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Hsu, Tiffany; Frenkel, Sheera (2024-01-25). "From Opposite Sides of War, a Hunt for Elusive Facts (Published 2024)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Allyn, Bobby (2023-10-26). "Is it true or not? Israeli group FakeReporter fact checks while seeking shelter". NPR. Archived from the original on 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ Frenkel, Sheera (2021-06-30). "Iranian Disinformation Effort Went Small to Stay Under Big Tech's Radar (Published 2021)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ Shezaf, Hagar; Benjakob, Omer (December 12, 2022). "IDF Soldiers Behind Twitter Accounts Harassing Journalists, Left-wing Activists". Haaretz.
- ^ a b Mezzofiore, Gianluca; Alkhaldi, Celine; Salman, Abeer; Elbagir, Nima (June 15, 2023). "Israel's military called the settler attack on this Palestinian town a 'pogrom.' Videos show soldiers did little to stop it". CNN.
- ^ "Pro-Israel online influencing operation has been targeting UNRWA: Report". Al Jazeera English. 19 Mar 2024. Archived from the original on 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ Frenkel, Sheera (2024-06-05). "Israel Secretly Targets U.S. Lawmakers With Influence Campaign on Gaza War (Published 2024)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ Gedeon, Joseph; Miller, Maggie (2024-06-05). "Israel targeted more than 120 US lawmakers in disinformation campaign". Politico. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ "Fighting Disinformation and Hate Speech Online • New Israel Fund". New Israel Fund. 2023-11-03. Archived from the original on 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
