Israel Signs $6 Million Contract to Manipulate AI and Online Narratives on Palestine
Israel has signed a $6 million communications contract with a US-based company, Clocktower X LLC, aimed at shaping online narratives about the country. The agreement includes producing content designed to influence how artificial intelligence systems respond to questions regarding Israel and Palestine.
According to Responsible Statcraft, the deal focuses on generating large volumes of digital media, SEO-optimized websites, and social media content to amplify pro-Israel framing online.
AI and Digital Influence
While the contract is not a direct partnership with OpenAI or ChatGPT, the strategy involves saturating the online information ecosystem that AI systems rely on, with the explicit goal of guiding future AI-generated responses.
Critics warn that this represents a concerning escalation of state-sponsored digital propaganda, blurring the lines between public diplomacy and information manipulation. By deliberately shaping the AI training environment, governments risk turning tools designed to provide neutral information into indirect instruments of political messaging.
Impact on Freedom of Expression
Civil liberties advocates argue that this approach undermines free expression by attempting to crowd out dissenting viewpoints—particularly criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza—not through debate, but via algorithmic dominance. As AI becomes a primary gateway to knowledge, these efforts to manipulate outputs raise urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and whether powerful states are quietly redefining the boundaries of public discourse.
