THE WEEK'S BIG 3     A series of antisemitic “swatting” incidents and fake bomb threats led by online trolls have targeted at least 25 synagogues and two ADL offices in 10 states over the past month. Two new studies by ADL and the Tech Transparency Project found that Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly Twitter, are hosting and promoting hateful content and making it easier to find. A new partnership between ADL and the Jewish fraternity, AEPi, announced the creation of a new center to combat anti-Jewish hate across 150 campuses in the United States and Canada. Read on for more on these headlines, news you can use to fight hate and the latest info about ADL from around the country.     ‌       1     Synagogues Across the Country Targeted in Hoax Calls to Police “The hoax calls to police departments or suicide hotlines around the country say that a man is considering killing himself and others or that a bomb has been placed in a building. The address given on the phone belongs to a synagogue that is livestreaming its services. In some cases, the callers watch in real time as police interrupt frightened worshipers. Later, clips of the incidents are posted online.” The New York Times: FULL STORY +READ: ADL Statement on Continued Series of Antisemitic Swatting Incidents Targeting Synagogues and Other Institutions +ADL Resource: What is Swatting?     ‌       2     Hate Machine: Social Media Platforms Pushing Antisemitic Recommendations, Study Finds “The world’s biggest social media platforms are not just hosting antisemitic and hateful content, they are promoting it and making it easier to find. That's the conclusion of two new studies, provided exclusively to USA TODAY, which found that Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, steer users to tropes and conspiracies. The result, researchers say, is fomenting dangerous ideas as antisemitic incidents in the U.S. surge to historic levels.” USA Today: FULL STORY +ADL Tweet: Social media platforms must tune algorithms and recommendation engines to avoid promoting hateful content — to change incentives, Congress must update Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Learn more about our findings and recommendations +READ: From Bad To Worse: Amplification and Auto-Generation of Hate     ‌       3     ADL Teams Up with Jewish Frat AEPi on Initiative to Tackle Antisemitism on College Campuses “For its latest effort to combat antisemitism on college campuses, the Anti-Defamation League is turning to a particular brand of college student: frat boys. The Jewish civil rights group is partnering with Alpha Epsilon Pi, the historically Jewish fraternity, on an initiative to engage members of AEPi’s 150 local chapters starting this fall, the two groups announced Monday. They revealed the new initiative — which will include the creation of something called the Antisemitism Response Center — during AEPi’s international convention in New Orleans over the weekend.” JTA:  FULL STORY +ADL Tweet: We're excited to announce our partnership with @AEPi & the launch of the #AEPi Antisemitism Response Center (ARC) - a centralized hub that will serve as a vital support system for combating antisemitism & promoting education & awareness on college campuses.

Synagogues Across the Country Targeted in Hoax Calls to Police