One Nation’s reported use of an AI-generated campaign video at its Victorian campaign launch has renewed scrutiny of how political parties deploy synthetic media. The footage, described by The Guardian, relies on racially charged imagery and narratives around migration, security and public support.
The video reportedly includes a man presented as African carrying a machete, a man portrayed as Middle Eastern wearing an explosive vest, and a South Asian man in a turban discussing “mass migration”. It also shows an Indigenous elder speaking about distributing money according to need rather than identity.
The material illustrates how generative AI can reduce the cost and time needed to produce attention-grabbing political content while making it easier to circulate dehumanising stereotypes. Such imagery can shape debate without offering evidence, policy detail or accountability for the claims implied on screen.
The report argues that existing watchdogs require stronger powers to respond to the expanding use of AI in political campaigning. The issue extends beyond any one party or country: democratic systems face a growing need to distinguish legitimate campaign communication from synthetic content designed to provoke fear and division.