A quarter of Israelis consider using AI to decide how to vote amid disinformation surge

One in four Israelis is considering turning to artificial intelligence when deciding how to vote, according to a survey conducted ahead of the elections. At the same time, false information and fake accounts have become common features of the online campaign environment.

The survey, conducted by the Geocartography Group for the Israeli Internet Association among 1,005 people, found that 71% of respondents had encountered election-related disinformation either frequently or occasionally. Only about 15% said they had not encountered it at all.

Fake or impersonating accounts were also widely reported. Some 56.8% said they had encountered them frequently or occasionally, while about 20% said they had never seen such accounts. Nearly half, 48.2%, said they frequently or occasionally encountered artificial intelligence being used to harm or defame someone. Another 25.6% said they had encountered that use rarely.

Concern about the political consequences crossed the electorate. Sixty-nine percent said they were very or extremely concerned that campaign discourse would increase online violence. Exposure to disinformation was reported by 73.3% of respondents who identified with the Right, 69.5% of those identifying with the Center and 68.9% of those on the Left.

The association said these risks are no longer marginal or future threats. It warned that violence, incitement and disinformation could intensify one another during the campaign. It is publishing a guide advising voters to check who stands behind a report and favor authoritative sources.