Australia Updates Radio Broadcasting Rules to Cover AI Use

Key Takeaways

• AI On-Air Transparency: Commercial radio stations must disclose when a synthetic or AI-generated voice is used to host a regularly scheduled program or present news content.
• First AI Rule in Broadcasting Codes: The Commercial Radio Code of Practice 2026 is the first Australian broadcasting code to explicitly address the use of artificial intelligence.
• Child Listening Safeguards: Broadcasters are required to take special care with content aired during school drop-off and pick-up times, specifically 8–9 a.m. and 3–4 p.m. on school days.
• Stronger Accountability Measures: The updated code strengthens requirements around corrections for news errors and improves transparency in complaints handling.
• Updated Australian Music Rules: Changes to station categories aim to better reflect modern broadcasting practices while maintaining longstanding obligations to support Australian music.

Deep Dive

Australia’s commercial radio broadcasters will soon have to be upfront with listeners about when artificial intelligence is on air, under a newly registered code that updates long-standing broadcasting rules for the first time to explicitly address AI.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has registered the Commercial Radio Code of Practice 2026, introducing new disclosure requirements for synthetic voices as well as tighter safeguards for content aired during peak times when children are more likely to be listening.

Under the updated code, radio stations will be required to clearly inform audiences when a synthetic or AI-generated voice is used to host a regularly scheduled program or present a news broadcast. It marks the first time artificial intelligence has been directly regulated within an Australian broadcasting code of practice, reflecting growing concern among listeners about transparency as AI tools become more common in media production.

The rules also sharpen expectations around programming during school drop-off and pick-up hours. Broadcasters will need to take special care with content aired between 8–9 a.m. and 3–4 p.m. on school days, time windows when families are often listening together.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the changes are designed to keep broadcasting standards aligned with both technological developments and public expectations.

“Broadcasting rules must keep pace with technology and with community expectations. AI is a powerful tool that offers a lot of innovation for broadcasters,” O’Loughlin said. “However, listeners want greater transparency about when AI is being used.”

She added that the revised time-of-day protections respond to ongoing concerns from parents and carers about inappropriate content during peak travel times. “These new rules set clear time windows where broadcasters must consider whether their content is suitable for children, giving parents and carers greater confidence when tuning in,” she said.

The revised code was developed by industry body Commercial Radio & Audio and goes beyond AI and children’s listening hours. It also strengthens requirements for correcting errors in news coverage and increases transparency around how broadcasters handle complaints.

Australian music obligations were another focal point during the review process, with many submissions calling for stronger protections. In response, the new code updates the station categories that determine how much Australian music must be played, aiming to better reflect contemporary broadcasting practices and evolving music genres. The ACMA said it will work closely with CRA and the commercial radio industry over the next 12 months to ensure stations apply the new categories correctly and continue to meet their longstanding commitments to Australian music, including support for new local artists.

“As with all the provisions in the code, the ACMA expects that licensees will comply with their obligations to broadcast Australian music,” O’Loughlin said.

She also signaled that the regulator’s expectations may extend beyond traditional radio. While the updated safeguards formally apply to broadcast services, the ACMA is encouraging stations to voluntarily apply the same standards to their on-demand and streaming offerings. If that does not happen, O’Loughlin warned, additional regulation could follow to ensure listeners receive the same level of transparency and protection regardless of how they access radio content.

“Commercial radio is an integral part of Australia’s media landscape and these rules will help strengthen trust between broadcasters and their audiences,” she said.

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