The House is moving closer to passing a law that severely restricts China's use of AI technology due to concerns over the spread of manipulated videos. The Communist Party's strict internet censors in China have allowed AI-manipulated videos of young women pretending to be Russians to circulate widely. These videos target the romantic fantasies and nationalist pride of some Chinese men.
One student, Olga Loic, from the University of Pennsylvania, discovered that her image was cloned in China to promote products and propaganda through AI-generated deepfakes. The deepfakes aimed to create a narrative of alliance and admiration between China and Russia, evading government censors.
Experts warn that artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, making it challenging to detect deepfakes without AI detection software. The proliferation of deepfakes poses a threat to democracy by undermining the credibility of information sources and amplifying disinformation.
Chinese state media is also using AI-enhanced videos on platforms like TikTok to push Beijing's narratives, including on sensitive issues like the South China Sea. This manipulation of digital content has turned the online landscape into a battleground for truth, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
The broadcast discussing deepfakes is notably not censored in China, reflecting the broader issue of limited censorship on the Chinese internet. The quality of deepfakes continues to improve, making it increasingly challenging for viewers to discern between real and fake content.
The prevalence of deepfakes raises concerns about the impact on democratic processes, as individuals may unknowingly consume manipulated content that influences their decision-making. The need for vigilance in identifying and combatting deepfakes is crucial to safeguarding the integrity of information in the digital age.
