Photos of Sara, AI and the upcoming elections: how it all affects democracy

Expert Buki Katzman analyzes the hype around the edited photos of the Netanyahu couple, calling it secondary. He emphasizes that the main threat is the use of AI to create fakes that can influence public opinion and election outcomes. The author calls for balanced legislation that restricts AI during the pre-election period but does not infringe on freedom of speech.

In his column on the Vesty portal, lawyer Baruch (Buki) Katzman examines the hype around photos of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, which are said to have been edited. The author calls this uproar secondary and disproportionate, noting that the prime minister's wife's desire to use Photoshop does not justify such a reaction. He sees the main danger in the capabilities of artificial intelligence to create realistic fakes that can spread within hours and influence public opinion, especially ahead of the 2026 elections. Katzman emphasizes that democracy is based on citizens' ability to obtain reliable information, and when it is impossible to distinguish reality from fake, the democratic process itself suffers. He calls for legislation restricting the use of AI during the election period but warns against turning the fight against fakes into a tool of censorship. The law must be clear, equal, and transparent, applying to all political forces. In conclusion, the author returns to the photos, noting that if we cannot be sure of the authenticity of images, that is a serious problem.