Red faces at the ABC as broadcaster backs down on Insiders claim Voice ‘No’ campaign uses AI-generated Aboriginal people in their ads
- Claim that ‘No’ camp used ‘AI generated Aborigines’ in advertisements
- Furiously denied by leaders Jacinta Price and Warren Mundine
- ABC later had to clarify false claims
The ABC was forced to clarify after airing false claims that the ‘No’ campaign used ‘AI-generated aborigines’ in their advertisements.
On Sunday, the ABC’s Insiders aired a special program to discuss the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, where guest John Paul Janke made the extraordinary claim.
Mr Janke, host of NITV’s flagship program The Point, said the No campaign had “multiple social media pages”.
“Some of them are now using AI with black native characters to try and look like it’s an indigenous person supporting the No campaign,” he said.
‘No’ campaign managers Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine (pictured) reacted angrily to claims they had used AI-generated Aboriginal people in their ads, calling them an ‘utter lie’
Insiders host David Speers asked him to clarify whether that was from the No campaign.
Mr Janke insisted it was, adding: “They clearly support different voices and they’re under the guise of moderate voices against the voice, like they’re Australians for Unity, but they’re using AI from a black character who’s the No case supports.”
Speers did not question the incredible claim, nor did he ask for any evidence to back up the claims.
But shortly after the program aired, the ABC had to issue a clarification.
“Insiders: On the program broadcast on Sunday, August 6, panel member John Paul Janke described the use of AI-generated videos by some opponents of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament,” the clarification read.
“The ABC would like to clarify that the campaign coordinated by Warren Mundine and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price – Australians for Unity is not affiliated with the referenced videos.”
‘No’ campaign manager Jacinta Nampijinpa Price labeled Mr Janke’s comments a ‘complete and utter lie’.
“Of all the racist, insulting, inaccurate things that have been said about the No campaign, this is probably the worst,” she said.
The ABC was later forced to clarify Mr. Janke’s false claims
“According to the ABC, the No campaign has AI created fake Indigenous Australians who vote no. A complete and utter lie!’
Warren Mundine, co-leader of the No campaign, also said the claims were a ‘lie’.
‘How low can the ABC and the Yes campaign sink!’
Daily Mail Australia asked Mr Janke for evidence to support his claim but received no response.
His Twitter page has been locked, although it is unclear when he took that action.
Mr. Janke, who also runs his own construction company Rork Projects, was the former co-chair of the National NAIDOC Committee.
The No campaign used stock photos of Aboriginal families instead of real people in one of their pamphlets.