AEC warns it lacks tools to fight AI manipulation ahead of election
The emerging threat of generative AI and deepfakes to democratic processes has the attention of election officials and cybersecurity analysts around the world.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has warned it lacks the capability to combat the threat of artificial intelligence and deepfakes to Australia’s democratic processes, as the nation’s top elections authority prepares for a federal election early next year.
Julie Igglesden, director of the AEC’s Defending Democracy Unit, reiterated this warning during a panel discussion at SXSW Sydney on Monday afternoon. She was joined by Luke Roache, CyberCX’s group executive director, and Elise Thomas, an analyst at global research firm ISD Global.
The panel discussed the rising threat of deepfake audio and video material on social media, during what has been a historic global election year, and questioned whether the government should introduce regulation empowering the AEC to directly combat these threats.
“As you know, we tread the line very carefully, really, with providing any type of policy advice and all those types of bits and pieces,” Igglesden said.
