The Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL) hosted two training sessions delivered by WITNESS on October 1 and 5, 2026, focusing on identifying, verifying, and responsibly reporting synthetic media and content created or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI). The workshops brought together journalists, fact-checkers, academic researchers, and civil society professionals to strengthen their ability to respond to emerging forms of disinformation, particularly in sensitive contexts such as elections, conflicts, and protests.
WITNESS is an international organization that advances human rights through documentation, technology, and tools to counter misinformation. In recent years, it has played an active role in addressing deepfakes and AI-generated media, including through its Deepfake Rapid Response Force, a network of experts providing evidence-based forensic analysis of suspicious content.
Understanding Synthetic Media and Its Impact
The first session introduced generative AI and synthetic media, including images, videos, and audio created or manipulated using AI. Through examples from elections and conflicts worldwide, participants explored how such content can undermine public trust and democratic processes. The session highlighted the challenges for media professionals and researchers, emphasizing critical evaluation and evidence-based verification when assessing potentially manipulated content.
From Detection to Responsible Reporting
The second session explored practical tools for identifying and verifying AI-generated and manipulated content, highlighting their capabilities and limitations. Participants were introduced to WITNESS’ Deepfake Rapid Response Force, a network of experts providing forensic analysis of suspicious media, and learned how to refer relevant cases for review.
Through an interactive exercise, participants practiced assessing suspicious content, evaluating evidence, and reporting findings responsibly without overstating certainty. The service supports cases involving elections, conflicts, and protests where human rights or democratic processes may be at stake, aiming to provide analysis within 24 hours of referral to its experts in appropriate cases.
Strengthening Local Capacity Through International Collaboration
The two sessions brought together approximately 30 participants from journalism, fact-checking, academia, and civil society, creating an opportunity to examine the challenges of synthetic media from different professional perspectives.
Participant feedback was positive, with attendees noting that the training helped clarify a complex and rapidly evolving field while providing a practical framework and tools relevant to challenges they already encounter in their work.
Beyond developing individual skills, the training strengthened connections among local stakeholders working on information integrity and created a direct link between Israeli professionals and international expertise. Participants left with practical verification approaches and a professional resource they can turn to when encountering potentially manipulated content.
Delivered to help participants prepare for the upcoming elections, the initiative demonstrates the importance of combining local capacity-building with international expertise. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly sophisticated, strengthening verification practices and responsible reporting is essential to protecting public trust, supporting informed democratic participation, and building resilience against information disorder.
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