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WA Police have been mimicked in a series of AI-generated deepfake videos taking aim at the state’s new firearm laws.
The videos, posted by the Western Australia Firearms Licence Holders Facebook page, spread misinformation about the specifics of the new legislation.
One video depicts a police officer and an ADF soldier, with the cop falsely claiming firearm licences can’t be issued to defence personnel “unless they can prove they aren’t crazy”.
Another shows police officers forcibly removing a shotgun from an older man’s hands.
Consumer Protection is encouraging people to spot the red flags in the fake videos, including incorrect uniforms and signs, people without fingernails and a watermark for AI video app VEO.
“It is really concerning because it is misinformation that is causing a lot of heated debate in the community unnecessarily,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake said.
The new laws require mandatory health assessments for firearm applicants and renewals, but deepfake videos incorrectly claim it’s a “blanket directive” targeting ADF members.
“What I would say to the people that are creating these videos is that you’re making it harder out there for legitimate firearms owners,” WA Police Commander Dario Bolzonella said.
Police say they’re investigating the videos, which have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
When contacted for comment, the Western Australia Firearms Licence Holders Facebook page responded with yet another AI video of a gorilla being arrested for making AI misinformation videos.