New laws in Australia will crack down on deepfake pornography and other misogynistic content to help combat the shocking rise in violence against women.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced $925 million will be allocated over five years to help women escape violent relationships and combat “male extremists’ toxic views about women online” following crisis talks with leaders state on Wednesday.
This includes new legislation to outlaw the non-consensual creation and distribution of deepfake pornography, as well as the sharing of sexually explicit material using artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.
Deepfake pornography occurs when an image or video has been “convincingly altered and manipulated” to show someone doing or saying something that never happened.
It comes after Albanese called an early meeting of the national cabinet on Wednesday in response to public outcry over politicians’ lack of action on the “scourge” of violence against women.
Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland also addressed growing fears about how online content was “normalising gender-based violence”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured speaking at Wednesday’s press conference) held crisis talks in response to Australians thinking the government was not doing enough to address rising violence against women.
The government announced that $925 million has been allocated for a series of initiatives, including the fight against deepfakes and revenge porn (file image)
Rowland announced $6.5 million in the upcoming federal budget for a pilot project of “age-assurance technologies” to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content.
“I am very aware, as a mother of two girls, that parents feel a burden about how to help their children navigate the online environment,” she told reporters.
“Reducing this exposure to harmful and degrading pornography will better protect Australia’s women and children and we will have more to say about our plans to strengthen online safety.”
While ‘revenge porn’ remains a concern, the impact of deepfake distribution in Australian schools has been highlighted in recent months.
Asked on Wednesday how Australia can reduce access to deepfakes, especially as most are posted from overseas, Rowland said the new laws would work similarly to existing legislation on intimate image sharing.
‘We realize that this will be part of that ongoing work to ensure that that type of material is not available, and has the appropriate records to be deleted because (in) many of these cases, what the affected person wants.’ It is the removed material,” he said.
“We are confident that, based on the existing precedents we have regarding this type of content that forms deepfakes, we can achieve significant and impactful changes in this area.”
Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland (pictured Wednesday) announced that some of the money will be used to reduce children’s exposure to harmful online content.
Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said parents need to be given more “support and resources” when talking to their children about online material, and said the government needs to help put an end to violent content on the internet.
“We know that to end violence against women, we need generational change and we need positive role models for young boys to ensure those negative stereotypes are countered,” she said.
“And that influencers who promote harmful attitudes towards women are also countered.”
Fake porn is about to have far-reaching consequences for Australians.
“The danger lies in the fact that real individuals have no control over what deepfakes, created using advanced AI techniques, might communicate,” said Elegant Media founder and Melbourne-based AI expert Anuska. Bandara. news.com.au.
New laws in Australia will crack down on misogynistic and deepfake content to help combat violence against women. Pictured is Mr Albanese at a rally in Canberra.
“By exploiting this technology, fraudsters take advantage of deepfakes to influence unsuspecting people, leading them into dangerous situations or even engaging in the distribution of explicit content,”
“The ramifications of this misuse pose a significant threat to the wellbeing and safety of the younger generation as they navigate the online landscape.”
In Australia, on average, a woman has been murdered every four days since the beginning of the year.
Albanese told reporters there is no overnight solution to violence against women and children.
‘My government is absolutely committed to moving forward to end family, domestic and sexual violence in a generation through our National Plan,’ he said.
‘I am satisfied that it is a step forward. Can we be satisfied when a woman loses her life on average every four days? Of course not.’
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence, please contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.