A newly published exclusive Jerusalem Post report alleges that a network of suspected bot accounts on X systematically amplified posts by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and members of his political circle, with cyber experts claiming the activity can be traced to IP infrastructure associated with New York City Hall. While the findings raise significant questions, the report stops short of alleging that Mamdani, his staff, or City Hall officials directed or controlled the accounts.

The findings, shared exclusively with The Jerusalem Post by the World Zionist Organization (WZO), were compiled as part of the organization’s efforts to combat online antisemitism. According to the WZO, cyber specialists analyzed IP addresses, account activity, and distribution patterns involving numerous suspicious X accounts.

The Jerusalem Post reports that it independently consulted the cyber experts behind the investigation, who said they were “100% sure” the IP addresses could be linked to City Hall infrastructure. However, the report emphasized that the available evidence does not identify who operated the accounts or establish that any city officials instructed them to carry out the activity.

According to the WZO’s analysis, investigators identified dozens—and possibly hundreds—of X accounts displaying remarkably similar behavior. The accounts allegedly posted or reshared content hundreds of times each day, relied almost exclusively on reposting rather than creating original material, frequently had sparse or incomplete profiles, and in many cases appeared to have been created only recently.

Researchers estimated that the number of suspected bot accounts continues to grow, with new accounts appearing regularly.

The Jerusalem Post states that nearly all of the accounts shared one defining characteristic: they consistently promoted content originating from Mamdani’s official account, New York City government accounts, and accounts belonging to the mayor’s political allies and administration officials.

Investigators documented dozens of accounts with nearly identical activity patterns. In many instances, between 96% and 100% of an account’s posts consisted solely of resharing existing content rather than publishing anything original.

One of the strongest indicators cited by analysts was the extraordinary posting frequency. Several accounts reportedly generated more than 500 posts each day, while others exceeded 800 or even 900 daily posts—a level of activity the analysts said would be difficult to attribute to ordinary human behavior.

As examples, the report cited the account @SnoopyLima13, which allegedly averaged 955 posts per day while reposting content 100% of the time, and @CatCat2005689, which reportedly averaged 864 daily posts, also consisting entirely of repeated shares.

At the same time, the analysts cautioned against drawing conclusions based solely on posting volume. They noted that unusually active accounts may still be operated by individuals or use legitimate scheduling software. However, they said that when such activity is combined with nearly exclusive reposting, empty profiles, recently created accounts, and identical behavior across numerous accounts, the evidence becomes more consistent with coordinated or automated activity.

According to the report, Mamdani’s official account and various municipal accounts frequently appeared to serve as the initial source of content before it spread rapidly through the network of suspected bots.

In several of the analyzed accounts, investigators found that between 98% and 100% of their reposted content originated from the mayor or related city accounts.

Some of the accounts had reportedly existed for only a few days before the analysis was conducted yet were already posting at extraordinary rates. One account, created just three days before being examined, had no followers and only 13 original posts but was already averaging 201 posts per day with a 100% repost rate.

The analysts said this pattern can significantly expand the reach of social media content beyond what would normally occur through organic engagement.

They explained that emotionally charged or controversial posts are especially likely to gain additional traction once artificially amplified. According to their analysis, an initial wave of coordinated reposts boosts visibility through the platform’s algorithm, attracting genuine users whose comments and shares further magnify the content’s reach.

The report concludes that such a process can generate dramatically higher exposure—potentially resulting in millions of views—not necessarily because of widespread organic interest but because of an unusually powerful amplification network.

As one example, the report pointed to a July 27 video posted by Mamdani from his office in which he stated that he could not arrest Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in New York City while accusing Israel of killing thousands. According to the report, the video accumulated millions of views, with the suspected bot network allegedly playing a major role in expanding its audience.

The report also raises questions regarding whether the mayor’s communications operation was aware of the activity.

Because communications staff typically oversee official government social media accounts and coordinate public messaging, the analysts said the existence of a large network consistently amplifying City Hall content naturally prompts questions about whether the activity was known internally or connected in any way to official operations.

Nevertheless, the report explicitly states that the evidence collected so far does not establish that Mamdani, members of his staff, or his communications team instructed the accounts to operate or exercised control over them.

Instead, the analysts conclude that the available information points to significant signs of organized amplification surrounding official and affiliated accounts, while emphasizing that identifying the operators, funding sources, and command structure would require additional investigation.

The WZO announced that it intends to submit its findings to Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, with a request that the information be forwarded to federal law enforcement authorities for further review.

“There is a need for a thorough, professional, and independent investigation into these hate-amplification operations,” Yifat Ovadia-Luski, head of the WZO’s Department for Combating Antisemitism, told The Jerusalem Post.

“Today’s antisemitism begins online and then moves into the streets, and the spread of hatred on social media is a central driver of that incitement. This is a well-oiled influence machine designed to shape the international arena, and it is making Jews feel less safe in New York City and across the United States.

“We cannot stand by. We are calling for intervention by the US federal authorities.”

{Matzav.com}