Stop and Consider

During an election there are lots of things said and written about how to vote.

You may come across false or misleading information about the voting process. AI-generated text, images, video and audio could be used to deceive people about where to vote, how to complete ballot papers or why the process may not be trustworthy.

Anyone can be affected.

Australia has one of the most trusted electoral systems in the world, and we all have a responsibility to protect it. Don’t risk what we have.

Stop and consider the content and source of what you see, hear and read about the voting process...then check or ignore it. Don’t share or repost it.

You can also report it to the place where you saw it.

Tips – What, who, how and when

Check the content – Look for words that cause strong feelings, say things that don’t make sense or only tell parts of a story.

  • Emotional language that causes strong feelings, like shock, anger or excitement.
  • Linking two or more arguments together that don’t make sense.
  • Showing a small number of choices instead of all of them.
  • Blaming a particular group or person who is not the only person / group responsible.
  • Attacking the person rather than focusing on the argument.
  • Hiding false claims / statements by just asking more questions.
  • Bold claims or picking facts or parts of a story without showing all the information.

Check the source – Ask yourself where the info came from, how and when it was made and why it was made.

  • Where did the information come from? Is it from a trustworthy place?
  • How was it made? AI technology makes it easier to create false text, images, video and audio.
  • When was it published? Old information can sometimes look new.
  • Why was it published? Is there a reason that someone could be trying to convince you of something that isn’t true.

Check info on our website – So you know true from false info about when to vote, how votes are counted, how a result is decided and how the AEC keeps votes safe.

Report

Tell the place where you saw it

  • For many platforms, click on the three dots (…) or ‘share’ icon to report content. Check terms of service or help pages for full instructions.
  • Tell DiGi if you think a platform who is a signatory has breached the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
  • If you see abusive, threatening or other seriously harmful content, report it to the eSafety Commission and/or the relevant authorities such as the Australian Federal Police or State and Territory police.

Ignore

Take away its ability to spread



  • Choose not to pay attention or respond.
  • Don’t share or repost it if you know it’s not true, not even as a joke.

Could it be AI?

New technologies offer great opportunities, but they can also make it harder, even the most internet-savvy of us!

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is the technology that enables machines to mimic human intelligence. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri and Google Assistant, self-driving vehicles and recommendations on platforms like Netflix or Spotify.

Generative AI can create something new, without any human input, and continues to learn and evolve. Examples include writing an article, producing new music, or painting a picture. There are also ‘deep fakes’, which appear to be genuine recordings of people but are created by complex computer programs. They can be images, audio clips or video clips. They can simulate real people or create entirely new people.

This can create serious problems for democracy and can undermine trust both in our own choices as well as the electoral system.

Check it out – Look for signs that it might not be genuine



Is it surprising?

If it seems unlikely, ask yourself whether it is true.

Others might be questioning it too. Try searching for information that either supports or contradicts what’s being presented.

Is it shocking?

Question information being presented in a shocking way.

Strong emotions can cloud judgement, so it’s important to analyse such information carefully.

Does it look strange?

Zoom in to check for errors in the details (blurring or looking too ‘perfect’).

Look at the hands and mouths of people... while AI is improving, there are often signs an image is created by AI.

Resources

The AEC will provide further resources – web, text and video based – during the election for people to understand the potential danger of AI in election communication.

Learn more

AECTV
Voting process explainers
Factsheet
How to stop and consider
Disinformation Register
Myths busted
Voter Guide
To campaigning
AI & elections
Environmental snapshot

You can also follow our social media accounts to hear directly from the AEC.




Updated: 30 January 2025