Alarming AI ads are flooding social media in the lead-up to Victoria’s election. But who is behind them?
A machete-wielding robber, a ‘tsunami of debt’ … campaigns echoing opposition talking points outspend major parties Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A man clad in a balaclava and brandishing a machete terrorises a worker at a petrol station before firebombing the building on the way out. A woman gives birth on the side of the road, unable to reach a hospital due to…
In the lead-up to Victoria's election, alarming AI-generated ads are flooding social media, attracting thousands of views. Two groups, Fix Victoria and Better Victoria, are spending significant amounts of money on these ads, costing up to $100,000 each. Fix Victoria, run by former Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) staff, aims to highlight issues such as crime, corruption and debt, which are key talking points for opposition parties.
The group is registered with ASIC by Deborah Henderson, former deputy executive director of the IPA. Its leaders include Andrew Hudgson, Gideon Rozner, and they emphasize that their focus is on addressing the state's "tsunami of debt," rather than political affiliations. Better Victoria, formed a month after Fix Victoria, also runs ads with its political content endorsed by the group itself.
The group's secretary is Ronald Holzer, who maintains an administrative role. Both groups avoid disclosing their financial backers and political affiliations, citing compliance with Victoria's electoral laws. Transparency International Australia's CEO, Clancy Moore, urges Victorians to be aware of who is behind these campaigns, as they are clearly trying to influence voting.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
