Beirut, October 25, 2024 | The Lebanese government reported mass losses in the telecom sector as a result of constant and indiscriminate Israeli bombardment across the country. Intelligence services have also uncovered over 280 fake evacuation calls, causing more panic among people.
Telecom losses reach millions
Caretaker Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm announced on X that Ogero and the two mobile network providers, Alfa and Touch, incurred an estimated $67 million in damages due to the ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon. Corm stated that damage to transmission and internet stations disrupted operations across the sector.
The Israeli occupation has been continuously bombing telecom infrastructure in different regions in Lebanon, even in areas it has designated as “safe.” On October 2, a cellular transmission station was hit in Beirut’s southern suburb.
More attacks have targeted telecom infrastructure in the South, where the Israeli military struck the “Awda” tower in Tyre. The first occurred on September 29, and the second on October 7, destroying a major internet service provider in that area.
AI-fabricated images spread on social media
A fabricated image of the Middle East Airlines civilian plane flying near a violent airstrike has been shared extensively on social media.
Many users have posted or reshared the photo on social media, raising concerns about passengers’ safety. Beirut is the only airport in the country, and it continues to operate daily with flights to and from Lebanon.
This is not the first misleading image of its kind, and, likely, it won’t be the last. SMEX advises users to verify the authenticity of news or images from reliable sources before publishing or sharing them, especially given how misinformation is often used to incite fear among people.
Fake evacuation threats
Lebanon’s General Security intercepted 288 evacuation threats that appeared fake in various regions, including Mount Lebanon, the South, Beirut, and the North, which are deemed “safe.”
This is not the first time people have reported receiving such calls, particularly during widespread panic and fear.
SMEX warns against the risk of misinformation and advises verifying news authenticity before publishing or sharing. We recommend cross-referencing multiple reliable sources and subscribing to fact-checking platforms such as Sawab and Fatabyyano.
Meta platforms escalate their censorship
SMEX’s Digital Safety Helpdesk has been receiving more cases of censorship and content moderation by those sharing posts about Lebanon and Palestine on Meta’s platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp.
Even accounts that appear “clean” on Instagram’s “Account Status” section—which shows restrictions to an account’s activity—users have reported being unable to interact with posts, write comments, or go on livestream.
Recently, it was also revealed that a former Israeli “government” official is working as Meta’s policy chief for Israel. She has reportedly pushed for banning accounts and posts expressing solidarity with Palestine on Instagram. This could suggest that suppressing some posts is systematic rather than an “algorithmic deficit,” as Meta has claimed.
SMEX urges social media companies, especially Meta, to stop suppressing the voices of users who are documenting and witnessing direct war crimes by the Israeli regime.
We have compiled some tips to protect yourself and enhance your security online. Our Digital Safety Helpdesk is also here for you. If you are exposed to or suspect any form of digital threat, reach out via:
Signal/Whatsapp: +961 81 633 133
Email: helpdesk@smex.org
Stay Safe!
Image from AFP.
