Australian groups urge government action against AI deepfakes and voice cloning

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) and voice industry advocates are calling for urgent federal government action to combat the rise of AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning.

Dr Danielle McMullen, President of the AMA, has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to strengthen the proposed Digital Duty of Care. The AMA warns that deepfakes impersonating doctors can spread medical misinformation, undermine evidence-based care, and encourage patients to abandon validated therapies for unproven alternatives. The association is seeking stronger transparency requirements, faster removal processes for harmful content, and mechanisms for Australians to opt out of unsolicited medical advertising.

Simultaneously, voice actors and industry representatives are raising alarms over AI voice cloning technology, which can replicate a person's voice with as little as ten seconds of audio. Celebrities, public figures, and everyday citizens have had their voices cloned without consent, often to facilitate scams or unauthorized use. The Australian Association of Voice Actors has stated that current protections are insufficient, noting that 61 per cent of voice artists have lost work in the last year due to the technology. While the federal government plans to introduce criminal offences for deepfakes and doxxing, advocates argue that Australia still lacks robust labeling and consent regulations compared to other regions.