Israeli figure sparks outrage with AI video depicting…

In August 2024, Israeli anti-migrant activist Sheffi Paz published an AI-generated video on social media that depicted her operating a garbage truck and collecting African asylum seekers from the streets as if they were refuse. The post, which featured the song Bye Bye Bye, sparked immediate and widespread condemnation from human rights advocates and social media users who labeled the content as racist and dehumanizing.

What happened

The incident involved the use of generative AI to create a video depicting the activist performing a sanitation role, specifically targeting African migrants residing in south Tel Aviv. Paz, a leader of the South Tel Aviv Liberation Front, accompanied the video with the caption, Sanitation Department - We're here for you! The imagery drew comparisons to historical propaganda used against minority groups, leading to calls for the platform to take action against her account.

In response to the backlash, Paz denied that the video was motivated by racial prejudice. She defended her actions by characterizing the migrants as illegal infiltrators and claimed her campaign was focused on the impact of these individuals on local neighborhoods. Despite the international outrage and accusations of inciting hatred, the video remained visible on social media. Paz has a history of activism focused on the removal of African asylum seekers, having previously faced legal indictments for actions including harassment and property vandalism.