Israeli State Comptroller Warns of Foreign Influence Threat on Social Media Ahead of 2026 Elections

Outgoing Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman released a report on Tuesday addressing the threat of foreign influence on social media platforms. The report highlights significant national shortcomings in Israel's preparedness to counter this threat, noting that despite the issue being identified nine years ago, there is still no comprehensive national policy or designated government body leading the response. Englman warned that the public remains exposed to foreign interference, especially as the 2026 elections approach, describing the period as highly sensitive and fertile ground for malicious foreign actors potentially skewing election results and undermining public trust.

Englman emphasized that hostile entities, including Iran, systematically exploit social media to deepen societal divisions, spread panic, and manipulate public perception. He pointed out that while international organizations recognize foreign digital influence as a strategic risk, Israel lacks a coordinated governmental response. The report also noted the emerging threat posed by AI tools that enable hostile actors to create highly credible fake identities and content rapidly and at scale, which could jeopardize state sovereignty and democratic processes without immediate government action.

The report recommends that the National Security Council propose a government decision to establish a dedicated body under the Prime Minister’s Office with a specific budget to address foreign influence threats. It also suggests developing metrics to assess the threat's scope and impact, identifying vulnerable target audiences, and enhancing resilience. The Shin Bet is urged to improve detection of foreign influence attempts and establish an official channel for reporting such activities. Additionally, the State Attorney’s Cyber Department should analyze requests related to foreign influence, including platform responses.

The report calls on the Ministry of Education to mandate critical thinking and misinformation education across all school streams from an early age, given the growing exposure to disinformation, especially after recent conflicts. It also advises the Elections Committee to develop strategies for handling foreign influence during elections, including possibly creating a public reporting channel to enable rapid responses. Given the increasing threat and existing gaps in monitoring and prevention, the Shin Bet should reassess its preparedness timeline before the elections.