Archimedes Group

Archimedes Group
IndustryPrivate intelligence agency
HeadquartersTel Aviv

Archimedes Group is a Tel Aviv-based private intelligence agency that has operated political campaigns using social media since 2017.

History

The current CEO of Archimedes is a former director of the Brussels-based European Friends of Israel lobbying group. This individual has also served as a political adviser in Israel's parliament and an ex-intelligence agent for the Israeli air force. Other senior executive include Yuval Harel, Fabio Goldman, Uri Ben Yosef, Ariel Treiger, and Rafi Cesana.

In 2019, it was banned from Facebook for "coordinated inauthentic behavior" after Facebook found fake users in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Facebook investigations revealed that Archimedes had spent some $1.1 million on fake ads, paid for in Brazilian reais, Israeli shekels and US dollars. Facebook gave examples of Archimedes Group political interference. The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab said in a report that "The tactics employed by Archimedes Group, a private company, closely resemble the types of information warfare tactics often used by governments, and the Kremlin in particular."[better source needed]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Debre, Isabel; Satter, Raphael (2019-05-16). "Facebook busts Israel-based campaign to disrupt elections". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  2. ↑ Satter, Isabel Debre and Raphael (2019-05-16). "'Change reality': Facebook busts Israel-based campaign to disrupt elections". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  3. ↑ "Haywood Hunt". Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  4. ↑ Solomon, Shoshanna; AP. "Facebook bans Israel-based firm that ran campaigns to disrupt elections". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  5. ↑ "Israeli Tech's Dirty Ops". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  6. ↑ Needleman, Sarah E. (2019-05-16). "Facebook Bans Israeli Firm Over Fake Political Activity". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  7. ↑ Weinglass, Simona. "Archimedes Group, outed by Facebook for election fakery, works from Holon office". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  8. ↑ Madowo, Larry (2019-05-24). "Is Facebook undermining democracy in Africa?". Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  9. ↑ Satter, Isabel Debre and Raphael (2019-05-16). "'Change reality': Facebook busts Israel-based campaign to disrupt elections". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  10. ↑ "Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From Israel | Facebook Newsroom". 16 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  11. ↑ O'Sullivan, Donie; Gold, Hadas (16 May 2019). "Facebook says Israeli company used fake accounts to target African elections". CNN. Archived from the original on 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2019-06-08.