Drawing a red line: Sohlberg orders Smotrich to remove AI-generated video of Eisenkot and Abu Mazen
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee ordered the removal of the video, noting that it 'looks realistic.' He explained that the disclaimer regarding AI usage was not sufficiently visible, failing to prevent the potential deception of voters.
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, ruled today (Sunday) that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich must remove an AI-generated video from social media. The footage depicts, among others, the chairman of the Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, shaking hands with the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas / Abu Mazen, followed by MK Mansour Abbas joining them.
«This part of the video was created using artificial intelligence, yet it appears to be real», — explained Sohlberg.
Sohlberg noted that while a clarification caption appeared at the end of the video stating it was edited with AI, it was insufficient. He explained that the marking added next to the video «is not enough to negate the concern of deception, since due to the nature of the display on Facebook and the wording of the marking, it will not always be seen easily».
The Yashar party and the 'Bochrim Be-Israel' association petitioned against the video. Sohlberg determined that the segment presents an event that did not occur, «but looks realistic.» According to the ruling, the video suggests an alleged political affinity between Eisenkot and MK Abbas that does not exist, thereby misleading the public.
«In doing so, the prohibition on unfair interference with a party's election propaganda was violated, a prohibition established in Section 13 of the Elections Law (Propaganda Methods), 1959», — he ruled.
