The South Australian Government introduces groundbreaking electoral reforms that enhance democracy and tackle contemporary challenges, including generative AI misinformation. These groundbreaking measures position South Australia as a leader in the fight against the erosion of electoral integrity while also boosting public confidence in governance.

State Parliament recently passed legislation that introduces focused modifications to tackle invasive political practices and reduce risks linked to new technologies. Key measures prohibit unwanted robocalls and deploy artificially created electoral materials, such as deepfakes, with stringent penalties for any breaches.

Reforms secure integrity and trust

1. Prohibition of unsolicited robocalls

Legislators enacted a ban on all unsolicited robocalls from political organisations, addressing a common voter complaint about intrusive campaigning strategies. Violators of the regulations will face significant consequences, including fines up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for political parties or organisations. “This legislation targets the sort of intrusive, disruptive, and deceptive conduct our community is fed up with in political advertising,” stated Dan Cregan, Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.

2. Ban on AI-generated misinformation (deepfakes)

New regulations prohibit the use of deepfake technology and generative AI materials that aim to deceive voters in electoral processes. Deepfakes digitally manipulate audio, video, or images to produce convincing yet misleading representations. They now violate the Electoral Act when used without consent. Those who engage in such practices will face consequences similar to those for robocalls, reinforcing the commitment to accountability in deceptive actions.

3. Enhancements to voting processes

Officials will count pre-poll votes on polling day, streamlining the process of determining election results and enhancing operational effectiveness. Officials will broaden telephone-assisted voting to support voters with visual and motor disabilities, enhancing accessibility for all.

4. Ban on federal electoral corflute at polling sites

State election regulations will discontinue the use of federal electoral corflute at polling locations. This decision reduces visual clutter and promotes consistency throughout the electoral process.

5. Implementation of key electoral recommendations

The new legislation incorporates key findings from the Electoral Commissioner’s Report on the 2022 State Election, boosts transparency, and builds trust in the electoral process.

Enhancing digital governance

The reforms significantly impact data privacy and advance data governance in Australia’s public sector. These initiatives tackle contemporary challenges like AI-generated misinformation and intrusive political tactics, enhancing protections for voters and setting a benchmark for the ethical use of technology in governance. Robocalls are prohibited, and AI-generated content is regulated to mitigate the misuse of voter data, safeguarding citizens’ personal information from exploitation in unsolicited or misleading campaigns. 

These measures tackle the potential threats associated with significant data breaches and the misuse of data in political advertising. The ban on deepfakes and deceptive AI-generated content addresses weaknesses in digital campaigning that can undermine confidence in democratic systems. Accountability measures through penalties send a strong message about the ethical limits of technology use in public communication.

Enhancing digital governance frameworks supports broader public sector goals by creating secure, transparent, and citizen-centric digital systems. We have laid the groundwork for upcoming efforts that focus on harmonising technological advancement with ethical oversight, positioning South Australia at the forefront of digital democracy.

South Australia’s groundbreaking electoral reforms set a new benchmark for addressing the complexities of contemporary democracy in the digital era. The new legislation enhances the integrity of the electoral process by prohibiting unsolicited robocalls, criminalising AI-generated misinformation, and improving voting accessibility by promoting transparency, network security, and fairness.  

The recent reforms highlight the administration’s commitment to protecting voter information, building public confidence, and integrating technological innovations into the democratic process responsibly. As electoral systems evolve globally, South Australia leads in protecting democratic values while promoting a more inclusive and secure digital public sector. The state takes significant steps to enhance its electoral processes, establishes a benchmark for innovation and accountability in governance, and safeguards democracy from emerging challenges.

Editors Publicspectrum

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