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Scare campaigns: Victoria’s major parties trade blows over AI-generated videos of leaders in election ads
Victoria’s major parties are using AI-generated videos of political leaders in campaign material, prompting warnings that fabricated images and speech could further undermine public trust. The row centres on a Labor video depicting Liberal leader Jess Wilson falsely saying that US-style healthcare would leave patients with steep bills; Wilson called it a smear.
Labor says Wilson’s real comments defending private hospitals doing public surgeries justify its criticism, while she denies any plan to Americanise Victoria’s health system. The Liberals have also posted an AI video showing Premier Ben Carroll asleep at his desk, and other groups have used fabricated election scenarios and imagery. Transparency International Australia says such ads risk eroding trust, while media researcher Timothy Koskie says AI makes misleading political arguments more convincing.
In short
- Labor used AI to depict Jess Wilson making false healthcare claims.
- The Liberals have also shared an AI-generated video of Ben Carroll.
- Experts warn fabricated campaign material could erode political trust.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Labor’s strongest case is that its video dramatises what it sees as the likely consequences of Wilson’s defence of private hospitals conducting public surgeries, and that voters deserve forceful scrutiny of proposals affecting healthcare. The Liberals’ use of AI imagery also suggests the campaign is testing a wider political format, rather than the concern being confined to one party.
The case against
Wilson’s strongest case is that she did not say Victoria should adopt a US-style healthcare system, so depicting her falsely saying so risks misleading voters about her position. More broadly, fabricated video and speech can make contested claims appear authentic, weakening public trust and making informed debate harder regardless of which party uses them.
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