Chinese actor expresses concern over AI scams impersonating him, seeks tougher laws
BTS's agency Big Hit Entertainment has filed legal complaints against perpetrators of cyber fraud. The company has warned fans against scams, reminding them that band members do not contact fans personally. One fan was reportedly so convinced by a scammer pretending to be band member Jin that she planned to travel 2,000km to meet him. Another fan almost left her husband due to a similar scam. Big Hit Entertainment urges fans to be vigilant and report any suspicious behavior.
Actor Jin Dong Calls for AI Legislation During Two Sessions Meeting
During China’s key Two Sessions meeting that concluded on March 11, Chinese actor Jin Dong called for legislation and better regulations on artificial intelligence (AI), especially deepfake face-swapping technologies that victimised many of his fans. The Two Sessions is China’s annual meetings of the country’s top legislative and political advisory body – the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Jin Dong's Influence and Impact
Jin, 48, is a CPPCC member and is widely known as the most popular Chinese actor among middle-aged Chinese women. Multiple women were previously reported to have fallen victim to AI-generated fake Jin Dongs on social media.
The Consequences of Deepfake Technology
In 2020, a 61-year-old woman from eastern China’s Jiangxi province lost 5kg in weight and almost split with her husband, after she fell for fake Jin videos on social media. She even planned to travel 2,000km to see Jin, who she said had promised to gift her one million yuan (US$140,000) and a flat.