Chinese regulators have announced new rules governing video and audio content online, including a ban on the publishing and distribution of “fake news” created with technologies such as AI and VR, Reuters reports. According to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), any use of AI or VR must be clearly marked. Failure to follow these rules could be considered a criminal offense, the CAC added. The new rules are effective 1 January 2020.
The CAC highlights potential issues generated by deepfake technology, which uses AI to create hyper-realistic videos where a person appears to say or do something they did not. Deepfake technology could “endanger national security, disrupt social stability, disrupt social order and infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of others”, according to a transcript of a press briefing published on the CAC’s website.
