Reported AI-generated images and deepfake video used in Israeli election disinformation
A study by Israeli disinformation watchdog FakeReporter revealed widespread use of AI-generated images and a deepfake video to spread false information during an election, accumulating over 3 million views. The disinformation campaigns aimed to influence public opinion, intimidate voters, and undermine confidence in election results.
According to a comprehensive study by FakeReporter, Election Day was marked by a digital battleground of manipulation. Key incidents included an AI-generated image shared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X, purportedly showing "unusual congestion at polling stations in the Arab sector" in Sakhnin, which garnered over 2 million views. Researchers determined this image was entirely fabricated using an AI image generator. Another campaign involved a website circulated in WhatsApp groups that used manipulated images of Gadi Eisenkot alongside Palestinian symbols to portray him as supporting a Palestinian state. Technical analysis linked this campaign to TikTok and Instagram accounts, one flagged as operating from Iran. Additionally, a fabricated deepfake video exploited the likeness of the late Shiri Bibas, urging Israelis to vote for the Democrats party. These incidents were part of a broader effort to spread misleading content by politicians, influencers, and online channels, fueling fears about Arab turnout and raising public trust concerns.