Israeli man used AI, ChatGPT in covert tasks while spying for Iran, prosecution indictment reveals

A 25-year-old Israeli man from Baka al-Gharbiya, Mohammad Khalaf, was charged with contact with a foreign agent after allegedly carrying out covert tasks for an Iranian handler. The indictment, filed Friday in Haifa District Court, details cryptocurrency payments, the use of AI tools including ChatGPT, and the sharing of security information about his workplace.

Haifa District prosecutors filed an indictment on Friday against Mohammad Khalaf, a 25-year-old Israeli man from Baka al-Gharbiya, charging him with contact with a foreign agent for allegedly spying for Iran. Khalaf, who works as a security guard at a youth boarding school, is accused of carrying out a series of covert tasks for an Iranian handler he contacted through a Telegram group for temporary work. The indictment details that Khalaf received payments in cryptocurrency, used AI tools including ChatGPT to perform assignments, and shared sensitive information about his workplace security procedures, including camera placements and shift schedules. The investigation, conducted jointly by the Shin Bet, the Israel Police Cyber Unit, and the Asher District Central Unit, uncovered full correspondence on Khalaf's cellphone, photographs and videos documenting the completion of assignments, and cryptocurrency transaction records. Khalaf allegedly retrieved a concealed phone from Kiryat Haim, hid and retrieved envelopes containing cash at various locations, and printed a fake invitation letter for a planned meeting in Paris. He was arrested on September 6, approximately three weeks after his initial contact with the handler, and has remained in custody. The prosecution is seeking to keep him detained until the end of legal proceedings, arguing that his actions demonstrate a high level of danger to state security.