Quarter of Israelis consider using AI for election votes amid rising online disinformation surge

AUGUST 31, 2026 12:13A quarter of Israelis are considering using artificial intelligence to help decide how to vote, while a large majority have already encountered false information and fake or impersonating accounts online, according to a comprehensive survey the Israeli Internet Association conducted ahead of the elections.The survey, conducted by the Geocartography Group among a broad, representative sample of 1,005 Israeli men and women, found that 69% of the public is very or extremely concerned that political discourse surrounding the election campaign will lead to an increase in online violence.That concern comes amid widespread exposure to disinformation, as some 71% of respondents said they have encountered false information surrounding the elections either frequently or occasionally, while only about 15% said they had not encountered it at all.Online impersonation is also widespread. Some 56.8% of respondents said they have encountered fake or impersonating accounts frequently or occasionally, while only about 20% said they had never encountered the phenomenon.The survey also pointed to significant exposure to harmful uses of artificial intelligence. Some 48.2% of respondents said they frequently or occasionally encounter AI being used to harm or defame another person, while an additional 25.6% reported rarely seeing it.This illustration picture shows the AI (Artificial Intelligence) smartphone app ChatGPT surrounded by other AI App in Vaasa, on June 6, 2023. (credit: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)Impersonation, disinformation, harmful AI use a major part of online environmentThe Israeli Internet Association said the findings show that impersonation, disinformation and harmful uses of AI are no longer future threats or marginal phenomena, but are already part of the current online environment.Against the backdrop of the election campaign, the association warned that existing risks in the digital sphere, including violence, incitement and disinformation, could intensify and even fuel one another.The survey also found that election-related disinformation is not perceived as a phenomenon belonging to only one political camp. Exposure cuts across the political spectrum: 73.3% of respondents who identified with the Right said they had encountered disinformation frequently or occasionally, compared with 69.5% of those identifying with the Center and 68.9% of those on the Left.IIA shares how to protect yourself from false information ahead of the electionsIn response to the findings, the Israeli Internet Association is publishing a guide ahead of the elections on dealing with false information in the digital sphere. The guide is intended to help voters navigate the flood of information that characterizes election periods and cope with online deception and manipulation that could influence their decision-making.Among other recommendations, the association advises checking who is behind a report, preferring authoritative sources, cross-checking information across several sources, and verifying both the publication date and the context in which it was published.The need to examine information critically is especially important in light of another Israeli Internet Association survey finding: A quarter of the Israeli public, 25%, said they are positively considering or intend to use artificial intelligence tools or another online service to help make a decision ahead of the elections.The association stressed that AI tools and chatbots can help people learn, compare positions, and understand public disputes, but that an AI system's answer is not an objective recommendation and should not be treated as an authoritative source.AI systems can make mistakes, rely on outdated, partial, or incorrect information, confuse fact with interpretation, omit important context, and even invent facts, quotations, and sources that sound credible, the association said.For that reason, rather than asking an AI tool, "Who should I vote for?" the association recommends using it for research, comparison, and fact-checking.Tailored prompts for improved researchSuggested prompts include:"Compare the parties' positions on issue X. Use up-to-date sources, attach a source to every claim, and distinguish between facts and interpretation.""What are the parties' positions on issue X, and what are the official sources for those positions?""Present the main arguments for and against this policy, without recommending which position I should choose.""What questions should I ask in order to fairly compare the candidates on this issue?"Most importantly, the association said, voters should not rely on the AI response alone. They should open the sources behind the answer, verify they exist and are current, and check that they support the claims presented."A free and fair election depends not only on our ability to choose, but also on our ability to make a decision based on reliable information,” Dr. Shaked Davran Zivan, coordinator for digital literacy and online safety at the Israeli Internet Association, said. “AI tools can help us understand the issues at stake and compare the positions of parties and candidates, but we must not rely on them blindly. It is important to check the sources, cross-check information, think critically, and ultimately form our own position."Follow us on Google