Users on social media began posting videos of Apple's built-in virtual assistant Siri saying that Israeli President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin is "the president of the Zionist Occupation State," Business Insider reported on Sunday.
According to the report, the likely cause of the response is vandalism on Rivlin's Wikipedia page, since Wikipedia is a source Apple often uses to produce its information from.
"Wasn't online yesterday for the 'Zionist occupation state' Siri screwup but the blame appears to be on Wikimedia instead of Apple," said Twitter user Anti-Semitism Watch Dog.
Wasn't online yesterday for the "Zionist occupation state" Siri screwup but the blame appears to be on Wikimedia instead of Apple. I direct my ire at them primarily, but also question why Siri blindly follows wiki entries.
— Anti-Semitism Watch Dog (@ASWatchDog) January 19, 2020
"I direct my ire at them primarily, but also question why Siri blindly follows wiki entries."
Another user said, "Wow. Apple. Zionist Occupation State? Your bias is showing," presumably claiming that the response was intentional.
Wow. Apple. Zionist Occupation State? Your bias is showing. https://t.co/oqA4qIR15h
— Tammy (@vophsi) January 19, 2020
"When #Siri gets it right... everyone's upset lol," said another user on Twitter. "#ZionistOccupationState Hopefully Siri also remembers that #Netanyahu is a terrorist."
When #Siri gets it right... everyone's upset lol#ZionistOccupationState Hopefully Siri also remembers that #Netanyahu is a terrorist.https://t.co/fG4flpfbHq
— (@GregCurtin) January 19, 2020
A user named Taufiq Marhaban compared Facebook's translation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's name as "Mr. Sh*thole" with Siri's mistake.
Facebook wrongly translates Chinese Xi Jinping names and Siri wrongly named Israel a Zionist occupation state pic.twitter.com/4r34dVWemo
— Taufiq Marhaban (@TaufiqMarhaban) January 19, 2020
Apple corrected the problem with Siri now saying that "Reuven Rivlin is the President of Israel," yet it has yet to formally address the controversy.