Bots, deepfakes and surveillance: Israel’s election goes to war online
Summary
Israeli election campaigns are using social media ads and AI-generated or doctored videos to influence voters, as polls show the blocs led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot in a close contest. The article also reports on a Likud turnout app and concerns about privacy and unequal access to campaign technology.Key Facts
- Polls cited in the article showed Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition bloc led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in a virtual tie before the election.
- Haaretz reported that online bots originally created to undermine Iran’s government were being repurposed to promote Netanyahu and Likud and criticize opposition figures.
- Both political camps were using AI-generated and deepfake videos on X, including videos about Netanyahu’s record before the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack.
- Likud planned to use an app called Victory 26 to identify areas with low turnout and help activists target people who had not yet voted.
- The Central Elections Committee restricted Likud’s use of the Elector app over privacy concerns; the article says Elector revealed voter identities, while Victory 26 does not.
- Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 20 percent of the population, and the article says they face particular privacy concerns because their political activity is monitored.
- The article describes significant technology and campaign resources being used against the Joint List and Ra’am, two blocs generally supported by Palestinian citizens of Israel.
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