Israel has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost its image in the US by seeking to influence how AI platforms portray the country, Politico has reported.
US public attitudes toward Israel have deteriorated in recent years, first over its response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and more recently over the US-Israeli war on Iran and its cost to taxpayers. Six in ten US adults now view Israel somewhat or very unfavorably, according to a June Pew Research Center poll, up from 53% last year and 42% in 2022. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is even less popular, with 65% expressing little or no confidence in his policies.
In a report on Friday, Politico detailed a $100,000 Israeli campaign aimed at influencing how large-language models such as ChatGPT answer questions about Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war. The effort centers on the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, a website publishing anonymous reports on anti-Semitism and geopolitical issues. The project was set up through French PR firm Havas Media, which handles much of Israel’s US influence work registered under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and its subcontractor, ad agency Piro Inc, on behalf of the Israel Government Advertising Agency (LaPam).
Israel has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost its image in the US by seeking to influence how AI platforms portray the country, Politico has reported.
US public attitudes toward Israel have deteriorated in recent years, first over its response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and more recently over the US-Israeli war on Iran and its cost to taxpayers. Six in ten US adults now view Israel somewhat or very unfavorably, according to a June Pew Research Center poll, up from 53% last year and 42% in 2022. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is even less popular, with 65% expressing little or no confidence in his policies.
In a report on Friday, Politico detailed a $100,000 Israeli campaign aimed at influencing how large-language models such as ChatGPT answer questions about Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war. The effort centers on the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, a website publishing anonymous reports on anti-Semitism and geopolitical issues. The project was set up through French PR firm Havas Media, which handles much of Israel’s US influence work registered under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and its subcontractor, ad agency Piro Inc, on behalf of the Israel Government Advertising Agency (LaPam).
It is not Israel’s first Havas-linked effort to sway public opinion, including through AI. According to a WSJ investigation published last month, the firm previously hired former campaign manager for US President Donald Trump, Brad Parscale, for a $46.5 million campaign that included pro-Israel AI-generated messages targeting Americans, as well as websites and posts designed to generate more favorable responses from AI platforms. Last fall, Responsible Statecraft reported that Havas Media also managed an “Influencer Campaign” which paid $900,000 for producing Israel-friendly content.
US frustration with Israel has extended beyond the general public, with politicians also becoming increasingly critical. Last month, more than 100 House Democrats backed an amendment that would have cut $3.3 billion in US aid to Israel. The measure failed due to Republican opposition but highlighted a growing partisan divide: just over two years ago, only 37 House Democrats backed a similar effort.
