Australia’s growing Indian community—known for its contributions in education, science, business and healthcare—is facing a new wave of digital attacks fuelled by generative AI and deep-seated stereotypes.
One social media creator has released a series of AI-generated clips, three of which have drawn significant concern. These videos depict a fictional “future Australia” governed by an Indian-origin prime minister dressed in a kurta-pyjama. The Australian flag is distorted to include kangaroos and lotus flowers. The national anthem is replaced by a Punjabi tune. Perhaps most troubling is a clip where Sydney’s roads are digitally altered to resemble congested, chaotic Indian streets complete with auto-rickshaws and piles of rubbish.
In one particularly mocking scene, the AI-generated Prime Minister—speaking in an exaggerated, stereotypical Indian accent—announces,
“We have launched a new breakfast policy—every jar of Vegemite will come with a sachet of garam masala.”
In another, he adds, “And don’t forget, from next summer all cricket matches will have a Bollywood dance number during half-time,” followed by a superimposed laugh track. While presented as humour, these lines reinforce the caricature of Indian influence as overwhelming, intrusive, and incompatible with Australian culture.
Though some viewers may consider this political satire or dark humour, it reflects an insidious undercurrent of bias. It targets a community that has long been an exemplar of integration and success in multicultural Australia. The use of AI to craft and amplify such visions is not random—it reflects an organised attempt to mock and vilify.
“This kind of misinformation and racial slurring is akin to cyberbullying,” said Puneet Tikoo, a Melbourne-based cybersecurity and AI expert.
“It is tragic that writing offensive and derogatory content is considered normal by certain sections of society.”
This sentiment was echoed in the aftermath of the Air India Express crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed over 270 lives. As the tragedy unfolded, social media platforms were flooded with racist commentary. Instead of condolences, many posts ridiculed the victims, drawing on tired and offensive tropes. Comments made fun of passengers as Uber drivers, purveyors of butter chicken, and owners of 7-Eleven stores. Some referred to the smell of Indian food and made dehumanising remarks about Indians being scammers.
“These trolls may think they’re just being funny or provocative online, but they should be mindful that the Internet never forgets,” Tikoo added.
“It always leaves a digital trail.”
These posts, often made anonymously, appear to be part of coordinated trolling campaigns. Analysts have previously raised concerns about Pakistan- and Khalistan-aligned bot networks deliberately targeting Indian communities abroad with hate speech and misinformation. These networks exploit global tragedies to sow division and propagate racist narratives, often under the guise of satire or internet humour.
Sydney-based award-winning cybersecurity and AI expert Chirag Joshi warned that this trend reflects deeper global challenges. “Tackling misinformation and bias in the age of AI is one of the most pressing challenges for modern democracies,” he said.
“Safeguarding values like openness, respect and dignity requires a multi-layered response.”
What makes this trend particularly dangerous is the blurring of lines between satire and propaganda. Generative AI makes it easier than ever to fabricate visual content that appears convincing, humorous, or viral, while reinforcing deeply racist assumptions. These AI-generated videos and comment storms do not exist in a vacuum; they operate within a broader ecosystem that normalises casual racism and invites broader public ridicule of a visible and prosperous minority.
“Government collaboration with digital platforms is crucial to ensure transparency in AI-generated content, especially when it poses societal risk,” Joshi added.
“Just as important is public empowerment—government-backed digital literacy initiatives can help individuals critically assess what they see and share online.”
For the Indian diaspora in Australia, this is more than just offensive content—it’s a growing misinformation war. These videos and social media campaigns threaten the community’s sense of belonging and safety. They undermine decades of work building bridges between cultures and fostering respect in one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies.
“We should refrain from making humour or satire out of others’ agony,” said Tikoo.
“If we can’t assist, let’s not aggravate human suffering.”
Australia cannot afford to dismiss these digital trends as mere online noise. The use of AI to spread racially charged misinformation is a serious threat that must be addressed by platforms, policy-makers and civil society. These are not harmless jokes—they are calculated attacks on identity, dignity, and the democratic promise of inclusion.
“Let us educate ourselves and our networks not to sow seeds of division,” Tikoo urged. “Be vigilant, caring, trustworthy, and mindful whilst posting online.”
Now more than ever, vigilance is required. If Australia values its multicultural fabric, it must act decisively to protect it—both in the real world and in the increasingly influential realm of digital media.
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