US filings detail Israeli government-linked $1 million media campaign targeting Americans
US Justice Department filings, first reported by Politico, show a communications arrangement for the Israeli government included $1 million in disclosed work orders for US-facing digital content, research, production and communications.
The filings concern New York-based Piro Inc., registered under FARA to work for Havas Media Germany GmbH on behalf of Israel’s Government Advertising Agency, LaPam. Piro says its work includes strategic communications and media relations and may include communications intended to influence the US public. Eran Shayovitch and Guy Getz are listed as officials it works with.
An April 30 agreement included a $900,000 “Digital Storytelling Pilot” covering strategy, research, creative development, scriptwriting, video production, distribution planning and analytics. The budget included $190,000 for strategy/content development, $80,000 for production oversight, $400,000 for video production, $95,000 for distribution/evaluation, $35,000 for consultation and $100,000 for analytics. Content was intended for US digital and social media, including websites and short-form video platforms, in English for the “General Public.” Production costs included directors, crews, talent, locations, equipment, editing, sound and music licensing.
A July 20 “Fact Based Content Initiative” added $100,000 for strategy, research, editorial development, creative work, production and distribution of “accurate, substantiated, and accessible content” concerning Israel and other subjects identified by the client and Foreign Ministry. It was paid in two $50,000 installments. The filings establish contract values, not that the full amounts were paid or spent.
Piro’s registration is linked to the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, which publishes data-driven reports on antisemitism, Israel and related issues. Hanover says Piro distributes its materials for Havas/LaPam, and that every report is filed with DOJ. It identifies itself as government funded and says it does not claim to be independent, nonpartisan or neutral, instead emphasizing sourcing and methodology. It publishes under the Hanover name without individual bylines, citing institutional standards and researcher harassment. It released more than 30 reports each on August 12 and 13.
Piro is 50/50 owned by co-founders Daniel Rosenberg and Timothy Piper, both listed alongside Carlos Cruz for strategic communications and media relations. Subcontractor Hai Tran registered July 22 as a Piro digital strategist, reporting a $50,000 flat fee and possible FARA political activity. The filings do not establish that Tran worked on Hanover, that either work order was devoted exclusively to it, who Hanover’s researchers or original founder are, or what other products resulted from the pilot.
Politico reported Hanover reports appear designed to feed data to LLMs and that ChatGPT cited Hanover in neutral tests involving Gaza, anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The Post found Perplexity relied heavily on Hanover when asked whether the IDF is the most moral army. Claude and Gemini did not independently cite Hanover, while Grok used no sources.
