'Ridiculous' use of AI and fake social media accounts interfere with local council elections in Victoria.
The accounts included fake business details and profile pictures, and attacked some candidates while supporting others.The Victorian Electoral Commission will publish provisional election results online later this week.Share article
The image's authorisation carries a different name than the account that posted it and is authorised from an address in Pondicherry, India."Certainly, as a candidate, it's made me think twice about what I'm doing on social and my exposure in community, and how I keep myself safe." Jetstream has its own Facebook page, but calls to the phone number listed on the page went unanswered.
There is no information which reveals who created the accounts, and there is no evidence they are linked to any particular candidate's campaigns.Dr Graham has looked at many fake and bot accounts in political spheres for his research, but has never encountered it in at the local government level. "If zero is a random person creating a new account and not even supplying profile information and just starting to post fake things ... and 10 is the internet research agency in St Petersburg in Russia, which is highly resourced, then I would probably put this at a one," he said.
While the inspectorate mandates requirements of a name and address, there is no mention of a process to authenticate campaign material.
Latrobe City Council] Jetstream Marketing Local Government Inspectorate Darren Howe Tracie Lund
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alexei Popyrin sends world No.5 Daniil Medvedev packing from Paris Masters despite ‘ridiculous’ call7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
‘Patently false’: NFL superstar blasts ‘ridiculous’ rumour after Jets coach’s shock axingNFL: The Jets horror run as an organisation continues, firing their head coach Robert Saleh after just 5 games into the season.
Read more »
Aaron Rodgers denies ‘ridiculous’ claims he played role in Saleh’s firingAaron Rodgers insisted he played no role in the firing of Robert Saleh as the New York Jets coach and called such allegations ‘patently false’
Read more »
Apparently fake social media accounts boost Azerbaijan before Cop29Exclusive: Linked accounts on X push petrostate’s posts about climate summit and drown out criticism
Read more »
Republicans preparing to reject US election result if Trump loses, warn strategistsPolling experts point to ‘fake polls’ exaggerating his support, with baseless lawsuits alleging fraud already filed
Read more »
How far Coles and Woolies' alleged dodgy discounts goThe alleged fake discounts scandal engulfing Coles and Woolworths could be far worse than first thought.
Read more »