Simon Wiesenthal Center

How quickly can a fabricated story become a trending global news item and reported as truth on social media? Earlier this year, rumors that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had died began circulating online. The claims were false, but that didn't stop them from spreading. The incident demonstrates how quickly fabricated information can gain traction, reach audiences around the world, and shape public perception before the facts are established. In our groundbreaking report, The War for Western Minds, the Simon Wiesenthal Center examines the Iranian regime's use of disinformation and influence operations to manipulate public opinion, amplify antisemitic narratives, and deepen divisions within American society. The Netanyahu death hoax serves as a reminder of the broader dangers of online misinformation, while the tactics explored in our report reveal how information can be weaponized to influence public discourse. Watch our video to learn more about the hoax and why recognizing these tactics matters. Read the full report here: https://wiesenthal.org/research/iran-report

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How quickly can a fabricated story become a trending global news item and reported as truth on social media? Earlier this year, false claims about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's death circulated online, creating confusion and demonstrating how easily unverified information can gain traction. The Simon Wiesenthal Center's groundbreaking report, The War for Western Minds, examines the Iranian regime's use of disinformation, digital influence operations, and antisemitic narratives to shape public opinion and deepen divisions within American society. The Netanyahu death hoax illustrates why understanding how misinformation spreads, gains credibility, and influences public perception is increasingly important. Watch our video to learn more about the hoax and the information warfare examined in our report. Download the full report at the link in the comments.

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Iran's influence campaigns didn't begin with social media. According to new research from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the infrastructure behind them has been developing for more than 30 years. In The War for Western Minds, SWC examines how the Iranian regime has used antisemitic conspiracy theories to reach audiences across the political spectrum, adapting its messaging to exploit different grievances and divisions. Among the report's key findings: 1. Iran's influence efforts predate today's digital platforms, drawing on decades of relationships, conferences, and state-backed media. 2. Antisemitic narratives can appeal to groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum, even when those groups disagree on nearly everything else. 3. Once these narratives take hold, they can continue circulating without direct involvement from their original promoters. Explore the findings and see how Iran uses antisemitic lies and conspiracy theories to spread hate and weaken democracies around the world. Read the full report here: https://wiesenthal.org/research/iran-report

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What happens when a foreign influence campaign no longer needs direct involvement from its original source to keep spreading? That's one of the questions examined in the Simon Wiesenthal Center's new report, The War for Western Minds: Iran's Thirty-Year Campaign to Divide the West. The research identifies three important patterns in Iran's influence efforts: an infrastructure built over decades, the use of antisemitic conspiracy theories to reach audiences across ideological divides, and the continued circulation of narratives through networks that may operate independently of Tehran. The report's analysis of more than 340 influencers, media outlets, organizations, and affiliated entities offers a closer look at how these narratives travel, gain traction, and persist. Explore the findings and see how Iran uses antisemitic lies and conspiracy theories to spread hate and weaken democracies around the world at the link in the comments.

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Eight years ago, on October 27, 2018, the Jewish community of Pittsburgh experienced the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history when a gunman opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue building, murdering 11 innocent worshippers and wounding six others. What should have been a peaceful Shabbat morning became a day of unimaginable tragedy, forever changing the lives of the victims' families, survivors, and the entire Jewish community. Today, the Simon Wiesenthal Center honors the memory of the 11 lives stolen by hatred and stands in solidarity with the Pittsburgh community. Their memory serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of antisemitism and the urgent responsibility we share to confront it wherever it emerges. Eight years later, we remember. We mourn. And we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring that Jewish communities can worship and live without fear. May their memories forever be a blessing.

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For decades, the Iranian regime has sought to influence American public opinion, spread antisemitism, and deepen divisions across the political spectrum. The Simon Wiesenthal Center's Erik Simon joined FOX 11 Los Angeles - KTTV to discuss our new groundbreaking report, The War for Western Minds, which exposes the Iranian regime's use of disinformation and influence operations to manipulate public discourse and undermine American society from within. The interview examines how these tactics have evolved over time, the antisemitic narratives being amplified, and why understanding the scope of this campaign is critical to recognizing and confronting its influence today. Thank you to FOX 11 Los Angeles for spotlighting this important research and bringing greater attention to the threats identified in our report. Watch the full FOX 11 segment here: https://lnkd.in/egyP3wSY And download the full report for yourself here: https://lnkd.in/eQxHdRvi

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Iran’s campaign of influence is not confined to the Middle East. It is reaching into the heart of American society. Our new groundbreaking report, The War on Western Minds, exposes how the Iranian regime has spent three decades spreading antisemitism, manipulating public opinion, and exploiting divisions within the United States. The findings are now getting national attention. In JNS (Jerusalem News Syndicate), Aaron Bandler speaks with our Head of North American Advocacy, Vlad Khaykin, about how Tehran uses “asymmetric warfare,” including propaganda networks, alternative media, and online influencers, to cast Jews as a scapegoat and sow division. On KNX News, Emily Valdez reports on Iran’s decades-long effort to divide America from within. And in the latest episode of Christians United For Israel (CUFI) Weekly, Kasim examines how Iran’s influence operations seek to infiltrate public discourse, amplify antisemitic narratives, and undermine American society. We thank JNS, KNX News, and CUFI Weekly for helping to bring attention to our findings. The threat demands awareness, vigilance, and action. Read, listen, and watch at the links in the comments below, and download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eQxHdRvi

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Foreign influence campaigns are increasingly sophisticated, but their success often depends on exploiting divisions that already exist. The Jerusalem Post examines findings from the Simon Wiesenthal Center's new report, The War for Western Minds, which traces how Iran has spent more than three decades using antisemitic conspiracy theories to influence audiences across ideological lines and undermine confidence in democratic institutions. The research details how these efforts have evolved from state-backed media and ideological networks to fabricated news websites, false online personas, and coordinated digital campaigns. The findings underscore a national security challenge that extends beyond the Jewish community: Foreign adversaries can exploit antisemitism to weaken public trust, amplify polarization, and threaten the foundations of democratic societies. Read the full article at the link in the comments.

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