Israel's Privacy Authority Demands Police Probe into Leak of Missing Girls' Personal Data

Israel's Privacy Protection Authority has ordered the police to investigate how personal information and videos of Mali and Liel Yahalomi, who were located in Argentina, reached the media. The authority suspects that at least some of the leaked information originated from the police.

Director of the Privacy Protection Authority, Gilad Samama, sent a letter to Police Commissioner Daniel Levi and the internal police privacy supervisor, George Kiworkian, demanding a comprehensive inquiry. The request follows media reports since the mother and daughter were found in Argentina on August 14, 2026. These reports included videos of their apprehension and questioning, as well as sensitive personal details such as private correspondence, AI search history, financial activities, and their planned return to Israel.

Samama stated that while the importance of reporting the location of missing persons is understood, the publication of vulnerable videos and personal details is problematic. He believes these publications, likely stemming from the police investigation, caused significant harm to their privacy without legitimate justification and potentially in violation of police procedures.

The authority has instructed the police to determine how the videos and personal details were leaked, whether privacy considerations were properly assessed before publication, and to draw systemic conclusions and lessons. The goal is to ensure that citizens' fundamental right to privacy is not compromised in similar future incidents.