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Safeguarding Australian Elections: Addressing AI-Enabled Disinformation

Australian Strategic Policy Institute

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Details

Date Published
13 Jan 2025
Priority Score
4
Australian
Yes
Created
8 Mar 2025, 01:04 pm

Authors (3)

Description

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, it creates new challenges for democracy and electoral integrity. AI-enabled disinformation, deepfakes, and influence operations are increasingly being weaponised to distort political discourse and erode public trust. With Australia's 2025 federal elections approaching, it is essential to understand the implications of these threats and develop strategies to address them. 

Summary

The article discusses the rising threat of AI-enabled disinformation in the electoral process, particularly as Australia's 2025 federal elections approach. It highlights the challenges posed by deepfakes and other AI-driven influence operations to democratic integrity. The event, co-hosted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Alan Turing Institute's Centre for Emerging Technology and Security, aims to propose actionable strategies to counter these threats, drawing on lessons from global elections, including the 2024 US presidential election. The focus on developing collaborative strategies among governments, tech platforms, and civil society emphasizes the importance of a unified response to safeguard electoral integrity.

Body

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, it creates new challenges for democracy and electoral integrity. AI-enabled disinformation, deepfakes, and influence operations are increasingly being weaponised to distort political discourse and erode public trust. With Australia's 2025 federal elections approaching, it is essential to understand the implications of these threats and develop strategies to address them.Join ASPI for the panel event ‘Safeguarding Australian elections: Addressing AI-enabled disinformation’, co-hosted by the Alan Turing Institute’sCentre for Emerging Technology and Security(CETaS), exploring the intersection of AI, electoral integrity and democratic resilience. PanellistsKate Seward(Microsoft ANZ),Antonio Spinelli(International IDEA) andSam Stockwell(CETaS), will highlight global lessons learned, including findings from the 2024 US presidential election, to identify actionable strategies for safeguarding Australia’s 2025 federal election.Drawing on findings from the recent CETaS research reportAI-Enabled Influence Operations—Safeguarding Future Elections, the panel will explore the dimensions of AI-enabled influence operations, election vulnerabilities and technical interventions needed to safeguard democratic processes. Additionally, the discussion will explore how collaborative approaches among governments, tech platforms, and civil society can foster a secure and trustworthy electoral environment.Register to join virtually hereFor those attending in-person, there will be a short reception with light refreshments served after the discussion.