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The Australian Liberal Party has created the country’s first completely AI-generated political ad, a move that is set to spark some controversy.
For an ad that will run exclusively in Canberra, the Liberal Party used generative AI to create a deepfake of the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
The ad stars Bob, a man who has voted for the same political party every year.
“Every time it is time to vote, Bob votes for the same party,” the ad narrator said.
“After 20 years of broken promises – we’re not happy, Andrew,” the ad continued, next to an AI depiction of Barr and several news headlines, including “ED wait times languish at nation’s worst” and “Housing crisis set to intensify in ‘unhealthy’ market”.
Prior to the ad, the use of AI in political ads has been exclusive to social media, with the Liberal Party facing backlash after it posted a deepfake video of Queensland Premier Steven Miles dancing.
“This individual video might be harmless enough, but it represents a turning point ... a pretty dangerous turning point,” Miles told 9News.
The move comes as a parliamentary inquiry has pushed back on legislation that would ban the use of AI-generated content in election campaigns, despite recognising that the technology could and probably would be used in the spread of disinformation.
The select committee on adopting AI recommended that the government develop new legislation and regulations regarding the use of AI as the next federal election looms.
However, the Senate committee, while recognising the risk generative AI presents in spreading disinformation and its use in election campaigns, said that the election was too soon and that there would not be enough time to create properly thought-out legislation.
“… Any such legislative scheme must be carefully considered to avoid potential bias in its application and to ensure that it does not impinge on the right to freedom of expression and the implied right to freedom of political communication,” it said.
Currently, as long as it’s authorised by a political party, AI can be used to depict political figures under the Commonwealth Electoral Act.
However, the government is looking at a ban similar to South Korea, which recently rapidly introduced laws to make the use of AI in political campaign videos illegal. Those who break this rule face up to seven years in prison.
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