Online monitor flags consipiracy theory about Shapiro mansion firebombing
By Casey Sebastiano | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – CyberWell has grown “deeply concerned” by the rise of online antisemitic rhetoric following the firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence in Harrisburg on April 13.
An international nonprofit real-time monitor and database founded by Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor in 2021, the CyberWell combats English and Arabic online antisemitism. The nonprofit’s main focus currently is social media content pushing the idea of the “false flag conspiracy.”
Cohen Montemayor described it as a modern form of antisemitism and a type of misinformation that is “slipping through the cracks” of digital policies and standards.
“The false flag narrative actually comes to blame Jews for being the target of the violent antisemitism that they’re experiencing today,” she said.
A wave of conspiracies began circulating online following the arson attack on the governor’s residence blaming Jewish people, according to Montemayor. Antisemitic posts spiked from April 13, the day of the attack, through April 15.
Regarding this specific attack on Shapiro’s home, the false flag conspiracy suggests Jewish people were involved in the attack and some social media users say Shapiro himself was involved, according to Cohen Montemayor.
“Since Oct. 7… we have seen the result of that widespread platforming of well-documented violence against Jewish people in this attack [on Shapiro’s home],” she said.
Between April 13 and April 14, on X, formerly known as Twitter, CyberWell saw about 315 results returned as false flag conspiracies containing the word “Shapiro.” Cohen Montemayor said those 315 posts garnered over 1,600 engagement pieces with a potential reach of 590,000 users.
She said time and reach are significant when monitoring antisemitism online.
“It’s freedom of speech, not freedom of reach,” Cohen Montemayor said.
The number of posts is a statistic CyberWell keeps track of, but the reach is what is more concerning to them.
General themes relevant to monitoring online antisemitism on all platforms, according to CyberWell, are dehumanizing and stereotypical content, harassment and bullying, graphic imagery, and false information.
In addition to the general themes, CyberWell focuses on content that is relevant to antisemitism, specifically including Holocaust hate speech, conspiracy theories that incite to violence, explicit threats, COVID-19 misinformation, hateful imagery and coordinated discrimination or segregation of groups or individuals because of their membership in a group.
CyberWell said their mission is to protect the Jewish community and to hold social media platforms accountable.
The denial narrative of false flag conspiracies in response to any violent attack is often “put to bed” once a suspect is taken into custody, according to Cohen Montemayor.
She said she does not think there will be additional false flag narratives or antisemitism surrounding this specific attack, however, CyberWell has observed a pattern of additional violence following the posting of false flag narratives online in the past.
“We will be monitoring closely to ensure that this attack and the subsequential false flag narrative does not act as a precursor for calls to more stress or violence against him, his family or the Jewish community in Pennsylvania,” Cohen Montemayor said.
