[FULL] Dialog - Soeharto (AI) Kampanye Golkar di Pemilu 2024

Summary

The video discusses the use of AI in political campaigning for Indonesia's 2024 elections, particularly highlighting a viral video of President Soeharto created by AI, posted by Golkar Party's Erwin Aksa. Political analyst Devi Darmawan critiques this as 'democracy disruption,' citing concerns over AI's potential misuse in spreading disinformation and reviving authoritarian imagery. While AI can positively enhance campaigns if used ethically, the video of Soeharto raises questions about ethical boundaries and the lack of a clear political figure within the Golkar Party to boost its electability.

Takeaways

• 😀 A viral video circulating on social media features AI-generated content of the late President Soeharto, encouraging people to vote for Golkar Party candidates in the upcoming 2024 legislative elections.
• 😀 The video was posted by Erwin Aksa, the Vice Chairman of the Golkar Party, and shared via his X account on January 7, 2024.
• 😀 Political analyst Devi Darmawan from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) views this AI-driven campaign as a sign of Golkar candidates' desperation, indicating a lack of strong, living political figures to boost their vote count.
• 😀 Gugum Rido Putra, Coordinator of the Election Advocacy Team (TAP), urges the General Election Commission (KPU) to regulate the use of AI technology in electoral campaigns to prevent its misuse for political propaganda.
• 😀 Devi Darmawan highlights the dual nature of AI technology in democracy, where it can either strengthen democratic engagement or disrupt it, depending on its usage.
• 😀 The use of AI to resurrect the image of Soeharto, who led Indonesia during the New Order regime, is seen as a negative form of 'democratic disruption,' as it harkens back to a non-democratic era.
• 😀 Soeharto's era is often associated with undemocratic practices, which contradicts the values of modern democracy and could undermine the integrity of election campaigns.
• 😀 While AI could be a positive tool for campaigning if used transparently, AI-generated content like the Soeharto video raises ethical concerns, especially when it spreads misinformation or distorts reality.
• 😀 Devi Darmawan questions why Golkar has chosen to use Soeharto's image when there are other influential figures within the party, such as Jusuf Kalla and Ridwan Kamil, who could have been utilized to enhance the party’s electoral appeal.
• 😀 The challenge for Golkar lies in finding a suitable leader who can boost the party's electability, as current figures within the party, including the Chairman, Airlangga Hartarto, have not been able to achieve significant electoral success.
• 😀 Despite Golkar’s long history, the party has yet to identify a prominent figure who can effectively rally voters, leading to the use of Soeharto's legacy as a means to boost the party’s appeal in the 2024 elections.

Q & A

What is the controversy surrounding the use of AI in the political campaign mentioned in the script?

The controversy involves a video where AI generates the image and voice of the late President Soeharto, urging people to vote for the Golkar Party's legislative candidates in the upcoming 2024 elections. The video, posted by Golkar's Deputy Chairman Erwin Aksa, raises concerns about the ethical implications of using AI to bring back the image of a former authoritarian leader to influence voters.

Why does political analyst Devi Darmawan consider the use of AI in this campaign a 'disruption of democracy'?

Devi Darmawan sees the use of AI to create the image of Soeharto in the campaign as a disruption because it represents a return to the authoritarian practices of the New Order era, which contradicts the democratic values that Indonesia has worked to establish post-Soeharto. She argues that the use of AI in this context undermines the democratic process.

What are the potential positive and negative impacts of AI in electoral campaigns, according to Devi Darmawan?

AI can have both positive and negative impacts. Positively, AI could be used to strengthen democratic processes by improving voter-candidate interactions and delivering campaign messages more effectively. However, negatively, AI can also be exploited to spread disinformation, such as creating deepfake videos, which can mislead voters and manipulate the democratic process.

How does Devi Darmawan view the use of Soeharto's image in the AI video from a historical perspective?

Devi Darmawan sees the use of Soeharto's image as problematic because he was the leader during the New Order era, which was marked by authoritarian rule and a lack of democratic freedoms. Using his image in a democratic campaign suggests a return to the old authoritarian practices, which could undermine the democratic values Indonesia has been building since the transition to democracy.

What does Devi Darmawan suggest could be a better way for political campaigns to use AI technology?

Devi Darmawan suggests that AI could be used positively in political campaigns if it is based on the party's vision, mission, and clear policies. It should focus on real, meaningful content rather than manipulating emotions or spreading misinformation. AI can be an effective tool to engage voters and present ideas that align with democratic principles.

How does the use of AI in this campaign differ from traditional campaign strategies?

Traditional campaigns rely on physical appearances, speeches, and face-to-face interactions with voters. In contrast, AI campaigns can manipulate and present figures, images, and voices of individuals, even deceased leaders like Soeharto, to create emotional connections or persuade voters. This new method, while more technologically advanced, raises ethical concerns due to the ease of spreading potentially misleading or manipulated content.

What specific ethical concerns are raised regarding the AI-generated video of Soeharto?

The main ethical concern is the manipulation of a deceased figure's image and voice for political gain. Using AI to recreate Soeharto's presence in a modern election campaign may mislead voters, especially since Soeharto's era is associated with authoritarianism and political repression. This raises questions about transparency, authenticity, and the potential to distort public perception.

What does Devi Darmawan say about the availability of other figures within the Golkar Party to boost its electability?

Devi Darmawan mentions that while there are other prominent figures within Golkar, such as Yusuf Kalla and Ridwan Kamil, the party has not been able to use these figures effectively to boost its electability. The declining popularity of Golkar’s current leadership, especially its Chairman Airlangga Hartarto, suggests that the party has struggled to present a candidate who can improve its public image.

Why did the Golkar Party choose to use Soeharto’s image instead of a more current political figure?

The Golkar Party likely chose Soeharto’s image because his leadership during the New Order era is still strongly associated with the party's past success and political dominance. However, this reliance on Soeharto’s image reflects the party’s struggle to find a contemporary figure who can generate the same level of voter support and boost its electability.

What role do individual legislative candidates play in the success of the Golkar Party in the 2024 elections?

Individual legislative candidates within Golkar have a significant responsibility for the party’s success in the 2024 elections. Due to the open proportional representation system, candidates are expected to independently secure votes, rather than relying solely on the party’s overall performance. This places additional pressure on individual candidates to engage voters effectively, which is likely a factor in the party's use of AI-driven content to boost their chances.