Israel and US Face AI Misinformation Risks in Elections

Israel and the United States are facing significant challenges from generative artificial intelligence as they enter key election cycles. In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party are utilizing AI to produce deepfakes, bot networks, and conversational robocalls ahead of the October 27 legislative elections. Likud has already released over 1,800 AI-generated posts to influence the electorate.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has warned that deepfakes could be used to fabricate damaging statements on election day, leading his B’Yachad party to create a verification war room. Other candidates, including Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, have already been targeted by deepfake videos released by Netanyahu. While the Central Elections Committee mandated the labeling of AI content in July, experts argue these rules are insufficient to stop generative engine optimization, where chatbots are manipulated to provide biased answers.

Similarly, in the United States, AI companies have issued warnings to voters during the midterm early voting period. They cautioned that chatbots may provide misinformation or omit critical context for those seeking help with local elections. Unlike the European Union, both Israel and the United States lack comprehensive federal AI regulations, leaving voters vulnerable to invisible manipulation and voter suppression.