Countering foreign interference and national security resilience in the age of AI

The evolution of AI has supercharged the countering foreign interference and national security landscape in Australia, reshaping the scale, speed and sophistication of threats. AI-enabled technologies are increasingly leveraged to shape public option. ASIO has warned that advances in AI are enabling disinformation and deep fakes, helping to promote false narratives, undermine factual information and erode trust.

Australia has taken the significant step of appointing a National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator to support the detection, disruption and deterrence of countering foreign interference risks. Further, universities have made significant progress in identifying and addressing the risk through the implementation of Guidelines to Counter Foreign Interference, requiring universities to implement cyber security measures in addition to due diligence, governance and communications controls. But more must be done to protect industry from the evolving threat.