Network of Bot-Like Accounts Found Supporting Sanctioned Mining Billionaire

An online disinformation campaign has emerged supporting sanctioned Israeli mining magnate Dan Gertler and targeting civil society groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a new investigation by Global Witness.

The investigation uncovered dozens of accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and at least 10 Congolese news websites that spread false claims in July that an Israeli arbitration had completely exonerated Gertler of all historic corruption allegations in the DRC. These allegations had previously led to U.S. sanctions against the Israeli mining tycoon in 2017.

Global Witness researchers found that the arbitration was actually a private commercial dispute with Israeli investors conducted behind closed doors. While the ruling apparently cleared Gertler of some allegations relevant to their business dealings, it was not a comprehensive judicial review of all corruption claims against him in the DRC, as the campaign suggested.

“The use of bot-like accounts and opaque media sites to push misleading claims shows how easily disinformation can be weaponized,” said Mike Davis, CEO of Global Witness. “Sanctions rulings should remain in force unless a credible court overturns them – no online campaign or private arbitration changes that – yet these networks appear designed to persuade the public otherwise.”

The analysis revealed approximately 40 suspicious accounts, all created in February, that posted nearly identical replies supporting Gertler and attacking prominent civil society figures. These accounts formed part of what appears to be a coordinated effort to rehabilitate Gertler’s image and undermine critics.

Gertler, who built his fortune through mining ventures primarily in the DRC, was sanctioned by the United States in 2017 for allegedly corrupt business practices that reportedly cost the Congolese state millions in potential revenue. The sanctions have significantly restricted his business operations globally.

While Global Witness could not establish direct links between the disinformation network and specific individuals, they noted that several of the websites regularly publish content favorable to Deo Kasongo, who handles communications for Gertler in the DRC.

The campaign bears striking similarities to a previous disinformation operation exposed by Global Witness in 2020, which also targeted critics of Gertler and attempted to influence public opinion regarding his business activities in the region.

This latest effort comes at a particularly sensitive time for the DRC’s mining sector, which is gaining increased global importance due to the country’s vast reserves of critical minerals necessary for the green energy transition, including cobalt and copper. Transparent and ethical sourcing of these resources has become a key concern for international markets and investors.

In response to the disinformation campaign, Global Witness has made its findings available in French to counter the spread of false information in the region, where media literacy and access to accurate information can sometimes be limited.

The situation highlights the growing challenge of combating coordinated disinformation in resource-rich countries where economic interests, politics, and information warfare increasingly intersect. It also demonstrates how digital platforms can be leveraged to reshape public perception around controversial figures.

“It’s deeply troubling to see journalists and civil society groups targeted in what appears like a coordinated effort to rehabilitate sanctioned individuals and silence scrutiny,” Davis added. “Platforms like X have clear policies against artificial amplification and coordinated inauthentic behavior – they now need to enforce them by investigating these networks.”

Global Witness, which is a member of the pro-democracy coalition Congo N’est Pas à Vendre (CNPAV) that was also targeted in the campaign, noted that some Congolese media outlets declined the right of reply before publication and instead published stories attacking the organization and making personal accusations against its investigators.

The organization emphasized its commitment to thorough fact-checking and legal review of all its investigations, standing behind “the rigor of its investigations and the professionalism of its people” in reporting on environmental destruction and alleged corruption.