2025-12-18 01:31:PM <br/> Tags: #Israel #WorldJewry #Intel #organization #Tech ![[image-202.png|338x338]] # CyberWell - CyberWell is an Israeli open-source intelligence NGO that monitors and combats online antisemitism using artificial intelligence. - CyberWell uses the data it collects to pressure social media companies into restricting speech considered to be "antisemitic." - CyberWell is known as the "first-ever live database of online antisemitism." - CyberWell is nominally non-partisan, but clearly left wing in its disposition. - CyberWell, an Israeli NGO, spends much of its time aiding American Jewish organizations in their lobbying efforts. - CyberWell is not registered as a foreign agent. #### Founding - CyberWell was founded in 2022 by Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, an American born Israeli woman who moved to Israel in 2009 and served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). - Cohen Montemayor moved to Israel under [[Garin Tzabaran]], an organization that facilitates aliyah for non-Israeli Jews for service in the IDF. *Aliyah is the Hebrew word for Jewish immigration to Israel. * - Cohen Montemayor is the public face of CyberWell. - [In the intro](https://youtu.be/0vAY7qExBgA?t=89) to her appearance on the [[Jewish National Fund]]'s "IsraelCast" podcast, Cohen Montemayor was described as a consultant for the Israeli [[Ministry of Strategic Affairs]] and the [[Jewish Agency]]. - In 2021, when discussing CyberWell's predecessor Global ARC (Antisemitism Research Center), Cohen Montemayor [stated](https://www.kcjc.com/current-news/global-news/7963-fighting-hate-olim-are-using-israeli-tech-to-fight-online-antisemitism-across-the-globe#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20social%20media,the%20right%20path.%E2%80%9D): “The social media platforms we’re focusing on now are only the start. I want to take our work into gaming and chat platforms, like Discord and Telegram. I then want to see Global ARC become Global HARC-the Global Hate and Antisemitism Research Center. I absolutely believe that we can take our methodology and apply it to many forms of hate including Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny, racism against BIPOC, and more." - CyberWell is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. - The CyberWell team, which is heavily female, includes many former Israeli intel officers, IDF veterans, and Israeli political operatives. - Vered Andre'ev, an IDF veteran and CyberWell's head of research, was given a [biography](https://eradicatehatesummit.org/participant/vered-andreev/) on the "Eradicate Hate" 2026 global summit page. - The bio ended with "Vered is happiest working with data and combing through content to answer critical questions on the state of online antisemitism." *I just found this funny. She's happiest when combing through antisemitism??* ![[image-203.png|593x395]] *CyberWell team. L-R; Vered Andre'ev, Lara Portnoy, Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, Rachel Brynien. [Source](https://jewishinsider.com/2024/01/cyberwell-tal-or-cohen-montemayor-ai-antisemitism-online/#:~:text=CYBERWELL-,CyberWell%20team,-By)* #### Activities - CyberWell monitors online content on all major platforms and is an official "trusted partner" of Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and [[Sale of TikTok|TikTok]]. - In this capacity CyberWell acts as an intermediary between a piece of content and the platform it is posted on. - CyberWell claimed victory in July 2024 when Meta changed its hate speech policy to include anti-Zionism and "Holocaust denial; claims that Jewish people control financial, political, or media institutions." - CyberWell's online "[reporting platform](https://app.cyberwell.org/)" serves as a database of antisemitic posts. - Users can scroll through posts and systematically report them. - The reporting platform provides analytics on antisemitic content as collected by CyberWell. - CyberWell's strategy involves scanning social media platforms for antisemitic content, flagging posts deemed antisemitic, and organizing flagged posts into categories according to the 11 examples of antisemitism as defined by the [[International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)]]. - The IHRA's definition of antisemitism has been adopted by many governments, institutions, legal structures, etc. - When using the IHRA's guidelines, government's and companies can be pressured into taking legal action by CyberWell. - *The [IHRA definition](https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism#:~:text=claims%20of%20Jews%20killing%20Jesus) of antisemitism includes "claims that Jews killed Jesus."* - After [[October 7th]] CyberWell sprung into action, creating an automated system to flag, and notify social platforms of antisemitic content. - CyberWell boasts that within the fist 3 months post-October 7th, they were responsible for facilitating removal of over 50,000 pieces of content. - On June 11, June 2025, a hearing was held before the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence called The Rise of Anti-Israel Extremist Groups and Their Threats to U.S. National Security. - [During the hearing](https://www.congress.gov/event/119th-congress/house-event/LC74843/text#:~:text=Antisemitic%20content%20on%20social%20media,line%20antisemitism) CyberWell was referenced as the source of "surging" antisemitic content after October 7th. - CyberWell's data was used in the hearing to call for reforms to section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. The Jewish network wants platforms to be legally liable for antisemitic speech so that they will abide by Jewish censorship demands. - CyberWell is a partner organization of the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] and the [[ADL]]. - In June 2024, CyberWell was featured during an event hosted by a number of [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federations]], the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]], and Tel Aviv University. - The event, "Tech vs. Hate: Combatting Online Antisemitism," featured leaders from the: - [[ADL]] - EverC Cyber Intelligence - Israeli-American company that that uses AI for "fully automated merchant and marketplace risk solutions." EverC warns banks, payment processors, and online marketplaces about potential fraud or undesirable merchants. - Generative Ai For Good - Israeli company that uses AI and AI deepfakes to advocate for left wing global initiatives. - SaveeAI - SaveeAI is largely focused on combatting Holocaust Denial™ and anti-Zionism online. [SaveeAI's website](https://saveeai.com/generator/) allows you to insert antisemitic content and get an AI generated response explaining how it is antisemitic and wrong. *Every member of the SaveeAI team claims to be "third generation to a holocaust survivor."* - Global Jewry - Israeli Jewish organization. *This is literally what it's called* - Israeli government - Michal Cotler-Wunsh, the Israeli [[Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism]] was featured. #### Funding and Major Donors - [[Adam Milstein]] - Early CyberWell backer through his nonprofit the Impact Forum. - Joseph Hyman - From the European Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy (CEJP). Joseph Hyman founded the CEJP in 2005 to connect pro-Israel Jewish donors to organizations. - CyberWell was the beneficiary Hyman's network. - [[Sagi Balasha]] - Balasha, who is the former CFO of CyberWell, was the founder and CEO of Kela Shlomo (Solomon's Sling) from 2016-2018. Kela Shlomo was an Israeli [[Ministry of Strategic Affairs]] initiative to run influence campaigns mostly in the United States. Kela Shlomo was [rebranded](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/17/israel-foreign-agent-law-leaked-documents#:~:text=The%20discussions%20around,policies%20towards%20Palestinians.) as Concert in 2018. Concert was rebranded as Voices For Israel in 2021-22. Voices for Israel is [now operated under](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/24/israel-fund-us-university-protest-gaza-antisemitism#:~:text=The%20organization%20is%20now%20under%20the%20administration%20of%20Chikli%2C%20the%20Israeli%20minister%20for%20diaspora%20affairs.) the [[Ministry of Diaspora Affairs]]. - Concert was a shell organization meant to conceal the origin of Israeli government money. - Concert was launched with $35 million in Israeli government money, to be used to fund a constellation of pro-Israel organizations. - *There is no public information that Concert funded CyberWell, but when CyberWell's hired Balasha to be Chief Financial Officer, they indirectly hired his funding networks and connections to Israeli and Jewish institutions. After the [public started to notice](https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/pro-israel-group-censoring-social#:~:text=CyberWell%20has%20scrubbed,our%20staff%27s%20safety.%E2%80%9D) these CyberWell personnel connections, they wiped the "our team" page from their website.* #### Notable Figures - Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor - Founder - [[Sagi Balasha]] - former CyberWell CFO and former CEO of the [[Israeli-American Council]] - Retired IDF Maj. Gen. [[Amos Yadlin]] - Advisor and former [[Aman]] head - Yossi Kuperwasser - Advisor and former [[Aman]] head of research #### Recommended Reading Spyfail - James Bamford (pages 209-211, 259 cover Sagi Balasha and Concert) #### References - Rosenbaum, Alan. “CyberWell – Using Data to Reduce Online Antisemitism.” _Jerusalem Post_ (Business & Innovation/Tech & Start-ups), January 5, 2023. [https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-726808](https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-726808). - Or-El, Ayala. “CyberWell Is Monitoring Online Antisemitism.” _Jewish Journal_, February 29, 2024. [https://jewishjournal.com/community/368634/cyberwell-is-monitoring-online-antisemitism/](https://jewishjournal.com/community/368634/cyberwell-is-monitoring-online-antisemitism). - “IsraelCast | Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor.” YouTube video, *Jewish National Fund-USA*. posted October 23, 2024. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vAY7qExBgA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vAY7qExBgA&). - Olim Are Using Israeli Tech to Fight Online Antisemitism Across the Globe. _Kansas City Jewish Chronicle_, April 21, 2022. [https://www.kcjc.com/current-news/global-news/7963-fighting-hate-olim-are-using-israeli-tech-to-fight-online-antisemitism-across-the-globe](https://www.kcjc.com/current-news/global-news/7963-fighting-hate-olim-are-using-israeli-tech-to-fight-online-antisemitism-across-the-globe). - Fang, Lee, and Jack Poulson. “Israeli Documents Show Expansive Government Effort to Shape US Discourse Around Gaza War.” _The Guardian_, June 24, 2024. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/24/israel-fund-us-university-protest-gaza-antisemitism](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/24/israel-fund-us-university-protest-gaza-antisemitism). - Fang, Lee, and Jack Poulson. “Pro-Israel Group Censoring Social Media Led by Former Israeli Intelligence Officers.” _Lee Fang_, July 11, 2024. [https://www.leefang.com/p/pro-israel-group-censoring-social](https://www.leefang.com/p/pro-israel-group-censoring-social). - CyberWell. _Annual Report: The State of Online Antisemitism in 2022_. [https://cyberwell.org/reports/annual-report-the-state-of-online-antisemitism-in-2022](https://cyberwell.org/reports/annual-report-the-state-of-online-antisemitism-in-2022). - Bamford, James. _Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America’s Counterintelligence_. New York: Twelve, 2023, 209–11. - Meta Platforms, Inc. “Hateful Conduct.” _Meta Transparency Center_. [https://transparency.meta.com/policies/community-standards/hateful-conduct/](https://transparency.meta.com/policies/community-standards/hateful-conduct/). *Covers Meta hate speech policy regarding Jews under tier 1.* - Meta Platforms, Inc. “Update from the Policy Forum on our approach to ‘Zionist’ as a proxy for hate speech.” _Meta Transparency Center_. [https://transparency.meta.com/policies/Hate-Speech-Update-July2024/](https://transparency.meta.com/policies/Hate-Speech-Update-July2024/). - Alan Zeitlin. “Can American Jews Build An Iron Dome Against Antisemitism?” _Jewish Journal_, May 3, 2023. [https://jewishjournal.com/community/358428/can-american-jews-build-an-iron-dome-against-antisemitism/](https://jewishjournal.com/community/358428/can-american-jews-build-an-iron-dome-against-antisemitism/). *Covers Adam Milstein's Impact Forum and its connection to CyberWell.* --- - “About.” _Generative AI for Good_. [https://www.generativeaiforgood.com/about](https://www.generativeaiforgood.com/about). - “Tech vs. Hate – An Online Conference Dedicated to Rising Online Antisemitism.” _Greater Miami Jewish Federation News_, June 13, 2024. [https://www.jewishmiami.org/news/federation/tech-vs-hate-gs/](https://www.jewishmiami.org/news/federation/tech-vs-hate-gs/). - “Tech-vs-Hate.” International Community Relations Committee, Tel Aviv University. [https://icrc.tau.ac.il/Tech-vs-Hate](https://icrc.tau.ac.il/Tech-vs-Hate). - Homepage. _EverC_. [https://www.everc.com/](https://www.everc.com/).