Christian Geo Fencing

[Evang.Benincasa]

"Christian geo fencing" is a term that has recently emerged in news reports to describe an Israeli government-backed public relations campaign targeting Christian churches and colleges in the United States with pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian digital ads.

The campaign is run by a California-based firm named "Show Faith by Works" on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as detailed in filings under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
How the Geofencing Campaign Works
Targeting: The firm creates digital "fences" (geofences) around hundreds of major churches and Christian colleges in four U.S. states (California, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado).
Data Collection: Mobile devices that enter these virtual boundaries are identified, allowing the firm to track attendees' location and online activity.
Ad Delivery: The firm then floods these devices with targeted ads promoting a specific point of view, which includes "combating low American Evangelical Christian approval of the Nation of Israel" and increasing awareness of "Palestinian ties to Hamas and support for terrorism".
Ongoing Campaigns: The campaign is designed to continue targeting these individuals with ads even after they leave the geofenced locations.
Campaign Details and Reactions
Funding: The campaign is a multi-million-dollar effort, with contracts valued at over $3 million, part of a larger Israeli strategy to bolster support among a demographic that has traditionally been a strong base of support but is showing cracks among younger generations.
Other Tactics: In addition to geofencing, the campaign plans include:
Hiring Christian celebrity spokespeople.
Paying pastors to produce content.
Deploying a mobile "October 7th Experience" exhibit (referring to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack) to churches and colleges.
Reactions: Many church leaders and congregations listed as targets were unaware of the campaign and raised privacy and ethical concerns over the use of their locations for political advertising without their knowledge or consent. Religious and civil rights groups have condemned the campaign as foreign interference and called for federal investigations.