Commissioner throws cold water on disinformation fears

Victoria’s upcoming state election, set for November 28, will see young people making up around 10% of the vote, sparking concerns about the influence of disinformation online, particularly on platforms like TikTok, where the majority of young voters get their news. Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel, speaking at a Monash University forum, stated that efforts are being made to combat disinformation and misinformation online, but young people may not be the primary concern.

Bluemmel believes these voters are quite media-savvy and informed about politics and democracy, expressing information in different ways. He emphasized that efforts like watermarks and regulation can provide a stronger shield against disinformation rather than stopping it completely, a concept he likened to military strategy. Monash University senior politics lecturer Benjamin Moffitt also agreed, suggesting young people might be the most media literate generation due to their environment.

While online threats to democracy persist, Bluemmel remains optimistic about its future, stressing that, despite the changing digital landscape, one thing remains constant: every vote counts equally.