Australian politicians, including Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have become victims of deepfake manipulation in AI-generated Facebook ads promoting investment scams. The misuse has sparked condemnation from politicians and discussions for stricter regulations against such fraudulent activities.
Deepfake images and videos of Australian politicians, including Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have been used in AI-manipulated Facebook ads to promote investment scams. Other politicians, such as former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, were also targeted. These scams appeared through more than a dozen paid ads, reaching thousands of Australians before Facebook removed them.
Gallagher condemned the misuse, stating that neither she nor other politicians would endorse such investment opportunities online. Similarly, McKenzie and Chris Kenny, a Sky News host whose footage was also manipulated, warned viewers about these scams.
Federal Minister Stephen Jones highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance fraud activities and mentioned forthcoming reforms to compel social media companies to take stronger actions against such scams. The scams have involved pages administered from abroad and paid for using various international currencies. Some ads only received minimal funding, while others, like one featuring McKenzie, were boosted with significant expenditure, reaching up to 250,000 people.
These fraudulent ads used AI to manipulate politicians’ faces and voices, further damaging public trust in political institutions. Government initiatives, including potential mandatory watermarking of AI-generated images, are under consideration to combat such misuse.
