Apple’s virtual assistant app was hacked by an Israel-hater seeking to spread lies about the Jewish state.
By United with Israel Staff
Social media erupted on Saturday night when Apple’s virtual assistant Siri described Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as serving the “Zionist Occupation State.” By Sunday, Siri correctly stated that Rivlin is the president of Israel.
Siri works through voice activation on Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads, with users asking the system a question and Siri providing the answer. Siri often gathers knowledge from Wikipedia. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that a hacker who calls himself “The Arab Man” altered Rivlin’s Wikipedia page by changing his description, which Siri parroted when prompted.
A Washington, D.C.-based Twitter user named Michelle Sindyukov, who describes herself on the social medial site as “Passionate about advertising, PR and photography,” tested the glitch after a friend told her about Siri’s offensive script.
Here’s a video of me asking Siri about who is president of my homeland Israel. Wow just wow, APPLE! @AppleSupport. pic.twitter.com/z8t9dlusx1
— Michelle Sindyukov (@mischasindyukov) January 19, 2020
The day after she tweeted the video of Siri’s reply, Sindyukov wrote the “mistake” was corrected.
Sindyukov’s post received many anti-Israel responses, including comments such as “Zionism=Nazism.”
Rivlin has been Israel’s president since 2014.