The AI Ad Loophole: A Transparency Timebomb in Victoria’s Election

Social media is flooded with AI-generated ads from groups like Fix Victoria and Better Victoria, raising concerns about the influence of outsiders on the Victorian election. These ads are designed to resonate with Victorians’ anxieties, but behind them lies a more insidious truth – one that reveals the dark underbelly of our electoral system.

The Fix Victoria story is particularly troubling. This group claims to be an “issues-driven” organization, but its communications director and head of advocacy have ties to the conservative thinktank Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), which has long been a critic of Labor governments. The group’s secrecy over its donors is concerning, given the potential for external influence peddling.

Fix Victoria and Better Victoria are exploiting loopholes in Victoria’s electoral laws by avoiding direct references to political parties or candidates. This allows their financial backers to remain hidden from public view – unless they choose to disclose themselves. As Catherine Williams of the Centre for Public Integrity notes, “Unless an entity meets the definition of third-party campaigner, no disclosure obligations apply.” In other words, groups like Fix Victoria and Better Victoria can operate in the shadows, influencing voters without accountability.

Transparency International Australia’s Clancy Moore warns against this kind of manipulation. He highlights a history of third-party and fake grassroots campaign groups exploiting loopholes to sway elections. Fix Victoria claims it has invested considerable resources to ensure compliance with electoral laws, but its communications director’s evasive answers only raise more questions.

Better Victoria has also been spending big on short ads, but refuses to reveal its backers or ties to any political party. Its spokesperson’s cryptic responses add to the mystery. The implications are stark: these AI ad campaigns threaten to undermine trust in our democratic system. If groups can operate with such impunity, it’s a free-for-all for outside influence and cash.

The Victorian election is about to become a battle for transparency – and who will come out on top remains uncertain. As the election nears its climax, one thing is clear: Victorians deserve better than this. They deserve to know who’s behind these ads, what their true motives are, and whether they’re beholden to external interests. It’s time for our electoral laws to be revised – before it’s too late.