By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 4: Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) component parties, including Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), have started taking measures to fight misinformation as attacks by malicious actors, aided by artificial intelligence (AI) such as deepfakes, are expected to become more common in the lead-up to the next Sarawak and Malaysia elections.
SUPP president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian emphasised that such attacks have already begun, even though there is a still a long way to go before the next Sarawak election.
Dr Sim was referring several recent online articles targeting Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, questioning when his fortune will run out and claims that Sarawak’s uptake in the oil and gas sector will be detrimental to Malaysia.
“We have to be aware that the future of politics will involve the widespread use AI, such as deepfakes. It is going to play a part in the next elections.
“You can see how misinformation is happening in elections in Mexico, India, United States and so on. So there is no reason this would not happen in Sarawak or Malaysia elections,” he told reporters after officiating SUPP’s 65th anniversary celebrations with a flag-raising ceremony at the party’s headquarters today.
The Deputy Premier highlighted the need to educate Sarawakians about the influx of AI-generated content to push out misinformation on a greater scale so that they can differentiate between real and fake information.
“SUPP is constantly looking into the evolving technology, and Kho Tech Wan (SUPP Women chief) is one of the cybersecurity experts involved.
“I believe everyone, including our component parties and GPS coalition itself, are looking into mitigating the threats of AI. Even DAP (Democratic Action Party) is looking into it as I have also discussed this with (Deputy Minister of Communications Malaysia) YB Teo (Nie Ching) during a meeting,” he said.
Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng as well as party veterans, leaders and members were present. — DayakDaily
