TV station says AI-generated depiction of PM in Eichmann-like cage was ‘mishap’
i24 comes under fire when first-of-its-kind AI video depicting Netanyahu at corruption trial appears to show him in a glass box reminiscent of the trial of Nazi war criminal
The i24 television station said Wednesday that an AI-generated image it used to depict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in court was a “mishap,” after seeming to show the premier in a glass cage reminiscent of the one that held Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann.
The network came under fire for the image, which ran during a live broadcast, with a note on-screen that it was generated via AI.
It was part of a short animated clip depicting the trial, which the network shared on X, advertising it as a first-of-its-kind in Israel.
Among those lashing out at the broadcaster was Channel 14 firebrand Yinon Magal, a far-right activist who posted the image on X, writing, “Did they really make a virtual image and put Netanyahu in a cage like Eichmann?”
The network responded to Magal’s post, writing, “AI mishap. As it went up, so it [was taken] down. And to be clear, the attempt to tarnish the network as one that would compare Netanyahu to Eichmann is shameful and despicable in our eyes.”
Netanyahu finally took to the witness stand on Tuesday in his criminal trial on corruption charges, the first time in Israeli history that a serving prime minister has appeared in court to testify as a defendant.
לראשונה בישראל: משדר חי ומתגלגל ב-i24NEWS עם הדמיות AI של עדות נתניהו.
מחר החל מהשעה 13:00 ממשיכים בעדכונים השוטפים מבית המשפט ומהאולפן של i24NEWS ביפו pic.twitter.com/552F7WkQeZ— i24NEWS (@i24NEWS_HE) December 10, 2024
He has been testifying from behind reinforced protective screens for security reasons.
Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases. He faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000 and Case 2000, and charges of bribery, as well as fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000.
He denies wrongdoing and says the charges were fabricated in an attempted political coup led by the police and state prosecution.
