Ehud Barak Calls to Shut Down Social Media Channels Before Election

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has proposed an unprecedented measure to combat the spread of deepfake videos and artificial intelligence-generated disinformation ahead of the upcoming October 27th elections. In a recent interview with Channel 12 News, Barak suggested that social media platforms like Instagram should be compelled to shut down their channels in Israel during the final three days before voting.

Barak expressed significant concern over the potential for technological manipulation to influence voters in the critical period leading up to election day. He stated that if the election committee cannot reach an agreement with platforms like Instagram, Israel should demand they close their channels.

When confronted with the difficulty of removing content once it has already spread widely, Barak remained firm, arguing that the only solution is to approach these companies and demand they cease operations in Israel for the crucial 72-hour period. He emphasized this demand should be made "in the name of the State of Israel."

Barak's proposal raises urgent questions about the balance between protecting the integrity of elections and upholding freedom of expression. The suggestion is expected to ignite a heated debate regarding the regulation of major technology companies and the safeguarding of democratic processes.