China reports first arrest over fake news generated by ChatGPT
A man in China's Gansu province has been detained for allegedly using ChatGPT to generate a fake story about a train crash, marking China's first arrest related to AI-generated fake news. This news comes as Beijing tightens its grip on deepfake technology.
The fabricated story claimed that nine construction workers died in a train crash in a city in China's northwestern Gansu. It was published on social media on April 25 and gained more than 15,000 clicks. The Pingliang city's local police bureau reported that the suspect, surnamed Hong, edited ChatGPT-generated news and uploaded it on Baidu-owned platform, 25 Baijiahao accounts, a blog-style platform owned by China's tech giant Baidu.
China has imposed new rules for deepfake technology that prohibit service providers and users from releasing and fabricating untrue information. The rules took effect from January 10, and aim to curb the use of generative AI technology to alter online content. The police statement said that the suspect was identified and arrested for concocting false information after the police traced all the accounts and found his company was involved. Investigations are continuing.
It is important to recognize that with artificial intelligence becoming more prevalent in society, there is a risk that it will be used to spread false information. This first arrest in China is an indication that governments are taking the issue seriously, and they are willing to take action against those who misuse AI to spread fake news.
