China highlights AI-related content in crackdown on online rumors targeting businesses

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police on Tuesday highlighted AI-related misinformation and fabricated claims about vehicle accidents as part of a crackdown on online rumors to protect the lawful rights and interests of businesses.

AI featured in several of the 14 cases released by the cybersecurity arm of the Ministry of Public Security, either as a tool for fabricating content or as the subject of false claims.

In one case in Shangqiu, central China's Henan Province, police said a man surnamed Xue used AI tools to create a fake video depicting a car crash and posted it on popular video-sharing platform Douyin.

In another case, a man surnamed Yu in Hechi in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region used AI tools to create fake videos showing a car crash involving a branded vehicle and the head of a company to attract followers.

In a third case, police in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, said a man fabricated claims that an official video released by a company showing a drifting maneuver had been generated using AI, and that an autonomous-driving vehicle had hit a sanitation worker.

Police said the actions damaged the reputations of the related companies and their products, and caused concern among their users.

The individuals involved received administrative penalties in most cases, with one facing criminal charges.