Privacy Authority orders probe into Yehalomi sisters leak

The Privacy Protection Authority at the Justice Ministry has ordered Israel Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into suspected privacy violations against Mali and Liel Yahalomi, following publication of footage and sensitive personal information about them in the media.

Privacy Protection Authority head Adv. Gilad Samama approached Israel Police Inspector General Daniel Levy and the force's internal privacy inspector, George Kevorkian. In his letter, Samama instructed the internal privacy inspector to exercise the oversight powers granted to him under the Privacy Protection Law, the Authority announced Sunday.

The directive follows repeated publications in media outlets after the two sisters were located in Argentina on August 14. Among other items, videos were published showing them "in a vulnerable state when they were found on a bus and during their questioning by a police representative, and sensitive personal details from the investigation of the incident were exposed."

The exposed details included private correspondence, searches they conducted using artificial intelligence tools, information about their financial situation, financial transactions, their location and movements, and their expected landing time in Israel. According to the Privacy Protection Authority, examination of the reports indicates that the source of the information, at least in some cases, was Israel Police.

Under his authority according to the Privacy Protection Law, the Authority head instructed the internal privacy inspector at the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into how the videos and personal details reached media outlets, apparently in violation of Israel Police procedures. He also instructed examination of the criteria that were weighed by Israel Police, if any were weighed, before allowing the publications.

The Authority head further instructed formulation of systemic conclusions and lessons regarding protection of privacy considerations in transferring information to the media in similar incidents. In accordance with his statutory authority, the Authority head directed that the investigation findings and lessons learned be submitted to the Authority.

Adv. Gilad Samama, head of the Privacy Protection Authority, stated: "The importance of publishing the fact that missing persons were located and are safe is clear to all, but there is real difficulty in publishing videos of them in vulnerable moments and exposing their personal details, movements, location and financial transaction details after they have already been found."

According to him, "These publications, whose source apparently is from the police investigation, allegedly caused real harm to their privacy, without legitimate justification and seemingly in violation of the police's own procedures," Samama added. "Israel Police is required to conduct a thorough investigation whether and how the information leaked and to draw the necessary lessons, all to ensure that citizens' basic right to privacy will not be harmed in incidents of this type."

Mali and Liel landed in Israel last Wednesday, after being declared missing in August and located in Argentina. The two were received at Ben Gurion Airport with many journalists and photographers, but refused to speak with the media.

Their attorney, Shanit Ben Shoshan, addressed the journalists and said: "Friends, these people have been through a lot, since this morning I've been receiving messages as if they are enemies of the state. I ask that you let them return home. They are not enemies and didn't steal and didn't murder and didn't do anything."

Family members said the two returned to Israel in order to rehabilitate and wish "to put the incident behind them." During the investigation conducted in Argentina, it was revealed that Mali planned the disappearance meticulously for over a year, withdrew her severance pay from her pension fund, and used it to finance the journey to South America.