AI bots linked to Iranian regime now amplify Netanyahu videos ahead of Israeli election
Investigators found that AI-driven fake accounts, previously used to promote regime change in Iran, are now sharing Benjamin Netanyahu’s videos to influence Israel’s election.
One outlet’s investigative team uncovered a network of AI-controlled accounts that were first deployed to back Iranian regime-change efforts and are now being used to boost Benjamin Netanyahu’s election campaign. The accounts, run by a privately owned Israeli monitoring company that receives government funding, share and comment on Netanyahu’s videos, portraying him as a strong wartime leader and attacking his political rivals.
Analysts traced more than 1,000 dubious profiles, with several hundred actively engaging with the prime minister’s social-media feeds since the campaign’s official launch on July 27. The same network previously promoted Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, and has also amplified posts by Israeli minister Gila Gamliel. Israeli election officials have summoned Netanyahu and other officials to respond to the allegations, which the parties have either denied or not answered.
Why it matters
The story shows how AI-generated fake accounts can be repurposed to sway domestic elections, raising concerns about digital manipulation.
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