Israeli Military Develops AI Tool to Analyze Palestinian Communications

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Israel's military surveillance agency, Unit 8200, has created a powerful AI tool modeled after ChatGPT, designed to analyze a vast array of intercepted Palestinian communications, according to an investigation by the Guardian in collaboration with +972 Magazine and Local Call. This AI model, which understands spoken Arabic, utilizes approximately 100 billion words from telephone conversations and text messages procured through extensive surveillance in the occupied territories.

Sources familiar with the project clarified that the initiative intensified following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023, with the goal of forming an intelligent system capable of processing large volumes of surveillance data. Experts warn, however, that the deployment of such technology can exacerbate biases and lead to significant errors, further entrenching existing power dynamics. Human Rights Watch’s Zach Campbell expressed concern over the implications for Palestinian civil liberties, noting that algorithms could end up disproportionately targeting individuals based on flawed data. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commented only on its commitment to utilizing various intelligence methods to combat terrorism, without addressing specifics about the AI model.

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