The AI Citizen
May 18, 2023
Beijing's Campaign to Stop the AI Misinformation Circus: Clickbait, Counterfeit Anchors, and Virtual Shenanigans Under Fire!
The Chinese Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has pulled out all the stops in its quest to take down AI-generated fake news. In a move that will surely make sarcasm detectors explode, they're cracking down on news providers who have mastered the art of manipulating reality. This includes those tricky AI virtual anchors, deceptive studio scenes, fake news accounts that masquerade as the real deal, and even the creative manipulation of news to craft outrageously misleading storylines. Yes, folks, it's all about generating those irresistible clickbait headlines!
According to the CAC, they've already shown 107,000 counterfeit news accounts and fake anchors the virtual door, along with eradicating a mind-boggling 835,000 pieces of phony information. The internet regulator is so desperate to keep the truth police on their toes that they're pleading with citizens to turn into virtual snitches and report any encounters with fake news accounts they come across.
China's AI media law, in effect since January 10, 2023, is doing wonders to bring down the hammer on those mischievous mischief-makers. The law not only targets individuals, as demonstrated by the recent detention of a ChatGPT user who cooked up a fictitious train crash story for their own amusement. The police, recognizing the gravity of the situation, swiftly dealt with this dangerous individual who dared to increase website traffic by spreading false information. They deserve a round of applause for their valiant efforts in protecting us from too many clicks.
But here's the thing: ChatGPT is like a unicorn in China—magical but hard to find. You see, it's not directly available there. However, for those determined souls with foreign phone numbers and virtual private networks (VPNs), there's a tiny glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, those precious lifelines are tightly regulated, making it as difficult as sneaking into a secret society meeting to access them.
Now, we must applaud Tencent, the genius behind WeChat, for their groundbreaking innovation: a "Deepfakes-as-a-Service" product! For a fee, users can create astonishingly realistic digital humans. But wait, is that applause turning into concern? Some worrywarts fear this technology might be misused somehow. Well, who would've thought?
China's fight against fake news and online regulation truly showcases their unwavering dedication to creating a secure and trustworthy digital environment. Of course, there are a few spoilsports out there raising concerns about censorship and the restriction of freedom of expression. But hey, who needs free speech when you've got an authoritarian government looking out for you?