Matan Yitzhaki, a correspondent for Channel 14’s Yoman Tsohorayim, presented new evidence on Monday revealing significant, ongoing information security failures within the IDF. The vulnerabilities stem from the pervasive penetration of social media into the military sphere, where numerous clips and live streams showing soldiers inside IDF installations and bases are published with visible faces, name tags, and unit insignia, exposing critical information to the general public and hostile actors alike.
Before the October 7 massacre, the Hamas terrorist organization systematically harvested intelligence from the public social media accounts of IDF combatants and support personnel. Through footage uploaded by soldiers, enemy operatives meticulously mapped out military bases and the internal layout of command facilities. Three years later, the dangerous phenomenon persists, raising pressing questions regarding chain-of-command accountability and disciplinary enforcement.
Following recurring security lapses, the IDF developed a dedicated technological platform dubbed “Morpheus,” designed to detect such accounts and issue alerts regarding sensitive operational content. However, investigative findings indicate that the phenomenon remains widespread. Footage broadcast in the report showed male and female soldiers uploading videos to TikTok from within base perimeters, living barracks, and live-fire training ranges.
More alarming still, deeper inspection revealed soldiers participating in TikTok’s interactive “Live Battles.” During these real-time broadcasts, soldiers can receive virtual gifts that can be redeemed for real money. In these public streams, viewers interact directly in the chat, posing questions in Arabic such as “What unit are you in?” or “Do you have a weapon?”—an acute operational security breach. In response to the report, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated: “The IDF maintains clear orders and directives regarding the use of social networks, filming in military facilities, and publishing content during service. These regulations are designed to prevent the exposure of sensitive information to the enemy and to safeguard the security of service members and military assets.”
While the IDF maintains that it enforces strict prohibitions to prevent such leaks, ongoing online activity shows that enforcement in the field remains severely lacking, leaving fundamental security vulnerabilities unresolved.
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