Man arrested in China for generating fake news using ChatGPT
A man in Gansu province, China, was arrested for using ChatGPT to create a fake story about a train crash, which claimed the lives of 9 construction workers. This is China's first arrest related to an AI probe as Beijing tightens deepfake technology. The story gained more than 15,000 clicks after being published on social media on April 25th. Local police reported that the suspect, surnamed Hong, edited ChatGPT-generated news and uploaded it on Baidu-owned platform Baijiahao. Investigations are continuing.
New rules to curb the use of generative AI technology to alter online content
The Chinese government has implemented new rules to bar service providers and users from using deepfake technology to produce, release, and fabricate false information. These rules, which took effect from January 10th, are designed to curb the use of generative AI technology to alter online content. As per the police statement, in this particular case, a total of 25 Baijiahao accounts reported the "accident" with IP addresses from different locations.
The suspect's company was found to be involved when the police traced all the accounts and found the falsified information. The suspect was arrested for concocting false information and investigations are continuing.
It is important for governments to impose strict regulations to prevent the misuse of generative AI technology, as it can be used to propagate false news and cause chaos. China's new rules to curb deepfake technology can be seen as a positive step towards preventing the creation and spread of false news.
