Adam Milstein has written extensively about the role technology plays in both spreading and combating antisemitism. Through the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, established in 2000, he has supported organizations that use artificial intelligence, data analysis, and digital tools to monitor, document, and counter hate speech on social media platforms. This technological approach represents an evolution in how Jewish communities respond to antisemitism in the digital age.
Milstein serves on the board of CyberWell, a nonprofit that operates what it describes as the first open live database of antisemitic content online. This involvement reflects his broader commitment to applying innovative approaches to longstanding challenges facing Jewish communities.
The Digital Antisemitism Challenge
Social media platforms have become primary vectors for antisemitic content. The scale of the problem exceeds what human moderators can effectively address. Millions of posts, comments, and messages appear daily across platforms, making comprehensive manual review impossible. Antisemitic content often uses coded language, imagery, or references that automated systems struggle to identify without specialized training.
Milstein has observed that young people, who spend significant time on social media, encounter antisemitic content regularly. In a Jerusalem Post article, he noted: “Social media is a huge source of information and entertainment for high school students, and all the major platforms have become rife with antisemitic content, so it’s no wonder antisemitic narratives become prevalent among high schoolers”.
The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel intensified online antisemitism dramatically. Platforms saw surges in hateful content, conspiracy theories, and celebrations of violence against Jews. Traditional content moderation approaches proved insufficient to address the volume and virulence of this material.
CyberWell and AI-Powered Monitoring
CyberWell, where Milstein serves as a board member, represents one approach to addressing online antisemitism at scale. The organization uses artificial intelligence to identify antisemitic content across social media platforms, creating a documented database of such content. This database serves multiple purposes: providing evidence for advocacy with platform companies, supporting research into antisemitism trends, and enabling faster response to emerging threats.
The AI-powered approach allows monitoring across multiple languages and platforms simultaneously, identifying content that might escape human moderators unfamiliar with specific cultural contexts or coded references. Machine learning models can be trained to recognize evolving antisemitic tropes as they emerge and spread.
Milstein has highlighted both the promise and challenges of using AI in this context. The same technology that can identify hateful content can also be manipulated or trained on biased datasets. Effective AI-powered monitoring requires ongoing refinement and human oversight to ensure accuracy and avoid false positives.
Foundation Support for Technology-Focused Organizations
The Milstein Family Foundation supports several organizations that use technology to combat antisemitism and media bias. These include groups that monitor news coverage, track social media trends, and document hate incidents.
HonestReporting, one foundation-supported organization, monitors media coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict and uses digital tools to track bias patterns across outlets. The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting () similarly employs systematic monitoring to identify and respond to inaccurate coverage. Palestinian Media Watch analyzes PA-controlled media using translation and documentation technologies.
These organizations share a common approach: using technology to gather evidence, document patterns, and support advocacy efforts. Rather than relying solely on anecdotal observation, they build comprehensive databases that demonstrate systematic problems and track changes over time.
Data-Driven Analysis of Media Bias
The Milstein Family Foundation also supports the Henry Jackson Society, a UK-based think tank that conducts research on foreign policy and national security. In December 2024, the organization released a report analyzing media coverage of Gaza casualty figures, demonstrating how data analysis can reveal patterns in how news outlets report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The report surveyed over 1,300 articles from major English-language publications over a four-month period. It found that 98% of articles cited casualty figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health while only 5% cited figures from Israeli authorities. The analysis revealed that Hamas figures were frequently presented without attribution, “thereby suggesting those figures were undisputed.”
This type of systematic analysis demonstrates how technology and data can support advocacy efforts. Rather than making general claims about media bias, organizations can point to specific, quantified evidence drawn from comprehensive monitoring.
Technology Within a Broader Approach
For Milstein, technology represents one tool within a comprehensive approach to combating antisemitism. In a June 2024 Jerusalem Post article, he wrote about the need for “moral clarity” and coalition-building alongside technological solutions. He argued that media outlets must “acknowledge antisemitism for what it is to avoid adding fuel to the flame”.
Technology can identify and document antisemitic content, but addressing the underlying attitudes requires broader efforts. Milstein’s foundation supports educational initiatives, interfaith dialogue, and policy advocacy alongside its technology-focused investments. This multi-pronged approach reflects his understanding that antisemitism cannot be solved through any single intervention.
As social media platforms continue to evolve and new technologies emerge, Milstein has emphasized the importance of staying ahead of those who would use digital tools to spread hatred. His support for organizations like CyberWell positions Jewish communities to leverage technological innovation in their ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism in all its forms.