Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to help the ABC better meet its Charter obligations of providing innovative and comprehensive services of a high standard. Such tools also present risks to be assessed against the ABC's Editorial Policies and AI Principles.
The acceptability of AI tools can vary depending on context and any relevant permissions sought by the ABC. This note outlines several of the more common editorial issues presented by AI tools and provides a framework for disclosing the use of AI tools as well as divisional mandatory referral.
Only AI tools that have been approved for use should be used in editorial content. Any use of AI tools must also adhere to all relevant legal and security obligations.
Independence and integrity
- 1.1 Maintain the independence and integrity of the ABC.
- 1.2 Exercise ABC editorial control over the content the ABC broadcasts or publishes.
Editorial content at the ABC, including all outputs of AI tools, must always be controlled and approved by an appropriately senior ABC staff member who remains responsible and accountable for its publication or broadcast.
In relation to AI you must follow the mandatory referral protocols that are outlined for each content division in more detail later in this guidance.
Accuracy and impartiality
- 2.1 Make reasonable efforts to ensure that material facts are accurate and presented in context.
- 2.2 Do not present factual content in a way that will materially mislead the audience. In some cases, this may require appropriate labels or other explanatory information.
Reasonable efforts must be made to ensure that material facts in ABC content are accurate. News and information content at the ABC must be gathered and presented with due impartiality. Where AI tools present risks in these areas, these risks should be proactively managed.
For example: generative models can produce inaccurate, misleading, or erroneously attributed outputs. These should never be relied upon as a sole source of truth for ABC staff. The content of any AI outputs proposed for use in news and information content must be independently verified prior to publication or broadcast.
AI tools are also used to assist in research or newsgathering, particularly in the analysis of large datasets. ABC staff should be aware of the limitations of such tools and make sure deficiencies in the data are mitigated or otherwise disclosed to audiences.
AI tools are also used in the editing or alteration of production material. Be aware that even superficial alterations can affect the meaning or integrity of source material, particularly if that material is a depiction of a real person or event, or if the material is evidentiary in nature. For example: fitting a still image to a desired aspect ratio by using generative AI tools to extend an out-of-focus edge of a photograph may be acceptable where the objects depicted have no material effect on the accuracy of the image. However, if that event and footage of it becomes contentious, that altered image will likely become unacceptable for use in news content.
Altering the central subject of the image is likely to be unacceptable in all forms of news and information content; in the News division it is presently unacceptable beyond demonstrative use. All AI alterations of media assets must be noted in as appropriate in asset metadata or program documentation.
Evidentiary source material should not be altered using AI tools in any way. More information on the ABC's approach to evidentiary source material is available in the guidance note on accuracy.
Fair and honest dealing
- 5.1 Participants in ABC content should normally be informed of the general nature of their participation.
- 5.6 Do not misrepresent another's work as your own.
Permission should generally be sought before using generative AI tools to create the voice or likeness of any participant in ABC content.
AI tools must not be used to create any content that replicates or is substantially derivative of any third party material without permission first being obtained.
Harm and offence
- 7.1 Content that is likely to cause harm or offence must be justified by the editorial context.
- 7.7 Avoid the unjustified use of stereotypes or discriminatory content that could reasonably be interpreted as condoning or encouraging prejudice.
Interactive AI tools, such as chatbots, have the potential to provide harmful instructional information if not equipped with sufficient guardrails.
Generative image and video tools tend to produce stereotypical depictions from their prompts that might cause offence in certain contexts.
Be aware that the use of generative AI tools to create or alter the voice or likeness of real people can carry considerable offence risks in addition to any undertakings concerns.
Other issues
When to disclose
Audiences should generally be informed when AI tools are used in ABC content or its production.
Disclosure should be made in a manner appropriate to the format: graphic templates or captions might identify that an image is generated or edited by AI; for AI-generated video, disclosure might occur via an on-screen graphic or script. In contexts where disclosure within content is impractical, make reasonable efforts to disclose to audiences through other means (e.g. program pages, end credits, other ABC websites).
Mandatory referral
In the News division, all uses of AI tools in the production of audience-facing content must be referred to an editorial manager, who will consider whether further upward referral is required. Except for content explicitly labelled and published to demonstrate the uses of AI, the publication or broadcast of content created using AI requires approval of the Director, News.
In the Screen and Audio divisions, all uses of AI tools should be referred to an editorial manager, who must consider whether further upward referral is required.
In addition to the referral processes outlined above, where use of AI tools is likely to cause controversy or have an extraordinary impact, proper notice must be given to an appropriately senior manager, in accordance with Editorial Policies standard 1.6.
For example, using generative AI to recreate the likeness or voice of a prominent politician or celebrity for satirical purposes would be likely to cause controversy and would require upward referral.
Commissioned and acquired content
Any third parties commissioned to make content for the ABC will be expected to use AI tools in a manner consistent with the ABC's editorial policies and related guidance.
For content commissioned from third parties, an ABC editorial manager must have oversight of any significant use of AI involved in the content or its production. This level of oversight is the same as would be applied to any editorial issue.
Licensors must notify the ABC if they are aware of, or reasonably believe there may be, any use of generative AI tools in acquired content that may materially mislead the audience or otherwise undermine that content's integrity.
Transcription
Transcriptions generated by internal AI tools for ABC platforms may need to be checked for accuracy or legal risk.
Third-party platforms may offer AI-generated transcription or captioning of ABC content. Decisions to adopt or use these tools will be made according to ABC's AI Principles and Editorial Policies.
This section does not apply to captions on free-to-air television broadcasts, which are governed by the ACMA and legislative statute.
Marketing and promotional activities
AI tools are commonly used to generate, produce and edit advertisements and other promotional materials. Audiences generally understand and accept that the assets used in promotional materials (e.g. images, videos, or audio, etc) may be edited or altered to a greater degree than in other contexts. Major assets for promotional materials must not be generated by AI tools, and care must be taken when using AI tools to alter or recontextualise depictions of real people, places and events in promotional materials.
Status of guidance note
This guidance note, authorised by the Managing Director, is provided to assist interpretation of the Editorial Policies to which the guidance note relates. The Editorial Policies contain the standards enforceable under the ABC's internal management processes and under the ABC's complaints-handling procedures.
It is expected the advice contained in guidance notes will normally be followed. In a given situation there may be good reasons to depart from the advice. This is permissible so long as the standards of the Editorial Policies are met. In such situations, the matter should be referred upwards. Any mandatory referrals specified in guidance notes must be complied with.
Issued: 21 July 2023, Revised: 16 October 2025