A Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet minister gave a tearful speech in the provincial legislature this week following several days of controversy over her use of artificial intelligence in a social media post.
Tourism Minister Andrea Barbour apologized earlier this week for using generative AI to modify an image of The Rooms provincial art gallery, which she then posted to social media. She told the legislature on April 23 that she continues to be “attacked,” despite her apology.
“There’s a difference between legitimate criticism and sustained personal attack,” Barbour said, referencing the jokes and outrage on social media, as well as repeated questions from the Opposition Liberals. “What I have experienced is beyond politics.”
The picture that sparked the controversy showed an image of the museum, but the statue of the caribou silhouette above the museum’s front door had been removed with AI. The caribou had been placed on the facility in honour of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and the hundreds who died during World War I.
Much of criticism centred around Barbour omitting a symbol honouring veterans, as well as for using AI to alter an image rather than hiring a local graphic artist to do the work.
The incident marks the most recent in a succession of AI-related controversies affecting the Newfoundland and Labrador government, though it is the first for the newly elected Progressive Conservatives.
Barbour issued an apology in the legislature on April 22 after Liberal members accused her of slighting artists and veterans. She also received a slew of critical comments on her social media post about her use of AI.
In a 12-minute speech to the legislature again the following day, Barbour said she was disappointed by the conduct of the opposition in the legislature and talked about being bullied throughout her life. She said she had hoped it would be different in the House of Assembly.
She teared up frequently during her delivery and had to pause several times to regain her composure or to wipe her eyes with a tissue.
“Despite my apology, members opposite chose to continue. They chose to press on. They chose to turn an apology into an opportunity for further humiliation,” she said. “There’s a difference between accountability and cruelty.”
Liberal member Lisa Dempster told reporters after Barbour’s speech that she did not think her colleagues had broken any rules with their questions.
She noted that it is the role of the Opposition party to question the government, but added that social media has become a “terrible, terrible place.”
