A New York City Council hearing is set to examine allegations that the mayor’s administration secretly operated an encrypted messaging channel to coordinate favorable media coverage with nearly 200 social media influencers, raising concerns over transparency and ethical boundaries in public communications. Investigators claim the channel was used to bypass standard press protocols, potentially shaping narratives without public oversight. The probe follows broader scrutiny of how city officials leverage digital platforms to influence public perception. Details on the scope of the operation and any potential policy violations remain under review.
The New York City Council is reportedly gearing up for a hearing centered on the use of a hidden, encrypted messaging channel by the administration of NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani to feed favourable coverage to close to 200 social media influencers.
