China's new challenge as natural disasters strike - fake AI videos

And this is not an isolated incident.In 2021, local officials were arrested, accused of concealing or underreporting 139 deaths in Henan province.Incidents like these have resulted in a trust vacuum that has made it much easier for bad actors to spread fake content.But police are imploring people to trust accredited sources during emergencies."When encountering disaster-related information from an unknown source, approach it with scepticism and rely on official announcements," Gao Kai from the Ningbo Public Security Bureau said.He also tried to reassure the public that the creators of false information would be caught, saying that "the internet is not a lawless zone. Public security authorities will continue to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal online activity"."We've created a specialised task force to monitor social media closely, especially short video platforms. They will investigate and handle these cases quickly, cracking down in a very strict manner".Punishment could range from a fine to up to seven years in prison if the fallout of the misinformation is serious enough.On 23 July, China's Cyberspace Administration also announced a nationwide crackdown on fake intern...