Foreign 'AI slopaganda' network targets Australian politicians

A foreign network of AI-generated deepfakes targeting Australian politicians has been uncovered, posing a significant threat to the country's democratic processes. Reset Tech, a research organization, has discovered over 200 Facebook pages impersonating various politicians, including the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, opposition leader Angus Taylor, and One Nation's Pauline Hanson.

In roughly 10% of these pages, monetization through Facebook's creator scheme has allowed owners to profit directly from these campaigns. The content often features inflammatory statements, anti-migrant or anti-Muslim sentiments, and sexualized images, prompting users to engage in polls and further manipulate the platform. Senator Fatima Payman, a Muslim member of the Australian Senate, was targeted by a page called "Australia Info Live," which falsely displayed her stating, "Please don't deport me back to Afghanistan.

It's not safe for me there. Vote no to support me." The AI-generated clips, designed for mass appeal, later shifted to political themes. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Senator David Pocock have also been victims of this foreign influence campaign. The Sri Lanka-based network, responsible for coordinating over 1,864 Facebook pages globally, has managed to garner a combined follower base of 5.9 million users.

Despite Facebook's own policies against inauthentic behavior, hate speech, and AI deepfakes, only one in three posts received AI labeling, and one in 33 posts were deleted. The researchers behind Reset Tech emphasize the need for social media platforms to address this pervasive issue, as their business models rely on generating outrage, capturing eyeballs, and maximizing clicks.