Tech platforms urged to tackle Hamas’ and Hezbollah’s online propaganda

The UN-affiliated Tech Against Terrorism (TAT) initiative is warning social media platforms that Hamas and Hezbollah are actively attempting to spread propaganda online.

At least seven members of the public were killed in an attack in Jaffa in Tel Aviv on Tuesday — since claimed by Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades — with multiple videos of the incident spreading online in the aftermath.

There are growing fears that online platforms will be exploited to further escalate violence. That the Jaffa attack occurred at the same time as Iranian missile strikes on Israeli territory “likely indicates a coordinated effort to escalate tensions and to exploit perceived security vulnerabilities,” warned TAT.

Most large platforms are legally obliged to remove terrorist content, including propaganda, attack claims and material inciting or glorifying terrorist acts — however the industry has seen a reported reduction in content moderation capacity in recent years.

“The attack in Jaffa highlights the growing risk of terrorist content fuelling violence, a tipping point we've been concerned about. As seen in events like the UK riots, the spread of extremist material online can quickly escalate conflict,” warned Adam Hadley, TAT’s executive director.

“It’s crucial for governments, tech companies, and civil society to stay alert and work together to prevent the spread of propaganda online from becoming triggers for further violence. Our collective efforts are key to reducing the risk and to protecting communities.”

The initiative, which employs an interdisciplinary team of threat analysts and developers, said its intelligence assessment suggested “a high likelihood that this attack will inspire similar activities in the immediate to short-term future.”

In particular, TAT warned of a “realistic possibility of further attacks both within Israel and internationally, potentially targeting Israeli-affiliated or Jewish communities abroad.”

Alongside the content spread by Hamas, TAT warned that Hezbollah’s military wing maintained “an extensive propaganda apparatus operating across various platforms” and that its audience has been growing “since the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023.”

“As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, we are seeing a concerning rise in Hezbollah-related terrorist content online. Tech platforms must act decisively to remove this material, which fuels extremism and poses a direct threat to global security,” said Hadley.