An AI-generated deepfake of the late dictator Suharto has sparked debate about using AI technology for political gain.
A once-feared army general, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades, has a message for voters ahead of upcoming elections – from beyond the grave.
I am Suharto, the second president of Indonesia, the former general says in a three-minute video that has racked up more than 4.7 million views and spread to TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
While mildly convincing at first, it’s clear that the stern-looking man in the video isn’t the former Indonesian president. The real Suharto, dubbed the Smiling General because he was always seen smiling despite his ruthless leadership style, died in 2008 at age 86.
The video was an AI-generated deepfake, created using tools that cloned Suharto’s face and voice. The video was made to remind us how important our votes are in the upcoming election, said Erwin Aksa, deputy chairman of Golkar – one of Indonesia’s largest and oldest political parties. He first shared the video ahead of February 14 elections.
The party is one of 18 competing in this year’s race, which will see more than 200 million voters head to the polls. Golkar is not fielding its own presidential candidate but has thrown its support behind frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, a former army general under Suharto’s military-backed regime – and also his former son-in-law.
By bringing a long dead leader back to life just weeks before the vote, Golkar’s intentions were clear: to encourage voters to throw their weight behind the party synonymous with Suharto.
As a member of Golkar, I am very proud of Suharto because he successfully developed Indonesia, Aksa wrote. He brought a lot of success. We must respect it and remember his services – Golkar was there.
But critics decried the act of using a dead man’s face and voice, especially for political propaganda. This is the state of our country today – bringing dead dictators back to life to fool and scare us into votes, wrote one Indonesian.
The technology used is so advanced … We can understand if some people mistook (the children) as real characters, said Budisatrio Djiwandono, spokesperson for Prabowo’s nationalist right-wing Gerindra Party, after an AI-generated video featuring children received backlash.
The use of AI technology in politics has raised concerns about the potential for voter manipulation. Deepfakes can greatly influence an election – the way campaigning is done, as well as the results, said Golda Benjamin, Asia Pacific campaign manager at Access Now, a US digital rights non-profit.
Efforts to address the issue have been made, with Indonesia’s Communications Ministry issuing advisories to warn voters and tech companies about the dangers of deepfakes. However, watchdog groups believe more needs to be done to protect voters from manipulation.
Suharto’s reappearance through an AI-generated deepfake has reignited discussions about his controversial legacy. While some see him as a strong leader who brought development to the country, others view his regime as one of corruption, oppression, and human rights abuses.
As Indonesia heads into the upcoming elections, the use of AI in political campaigns continues to be a topic of concern. The country’s voters, especially the younger generation, must be vigilant and critical in assessing the authenticity of the political content they encounter online.
As technology evolves, the impact of deepfakes on elections poses a significant challenge for societies worldwide. Striking a balance between utilizing AI for positive advancements and safeguarding democratic processes remains a pressing issue that governments and citizens alike must address.
In an era where political narratives can be easily manipulated through advanced technologies, it is crucial to ensure transparency and ethical practices in political campaigning. The power of AI should be harnessed responsibly to uphold democratic values and maintain the integrity of electoral processes.
The AI-generated Suharto deepfake serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers and ethical dilemmas associated with the use of this technology in political contexts. As debates continue, it remains to be seen how governments and tech companies will navigate the murky waters of deepfake electioneering.
