China arrests first domestic suspect linked to ChatGPT

Police search the suspect's apartment in Dongguan, Guangdong province on May 5. Photo: CNN

Local media called this the first crime case in China involving this artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot.

CNN (US) quoted a notice from Gansu province police saying that they had arrested a man suspected of using ChatGPT to create fake news about a train accident and then posting the information online. According to local police on May 7, this fake news post received 15,000 views.

Gansu authorities said the suspect, surnamed Hong, was questioned in Dongguan city, Guangdong province on May 5.

"Hong used modern technology to create fake news and spread it on the internet. His behavior caused unrest and stirred up trouble," Gansu police said.

CGTN (China) said this is the first arrest in the country related to the use of ChatGPT to create and spread fake news.

China has banned ChatGPT, developed by an American company called Open AI. However, internet users can use virtual private networks (VPNs) to access ChatGPT in China.

China’s Cyberspace Administration issued new regulations in January to control the use of deep fake technology. The regulations prohibit users from creating deep fake content on topics that are prohibited by existing laws. It also highlights the process for removing fake and harmful content.

In a draft guideline released in April for public feedback, China’s cybersecurity agency said generative AI services must be approved before they can be put into operation. Service providers must also verify users’ real identities and provide details on the size and type of data they use, their underlying algorithms, and other technical information.

The arrests come as China's Ministry of Public Security launched a 100-day campaign, starting in March, to crack down on the spread of fake news on the internet.

In March, China's Baidu launched a ChatGPT-like project called "Ernie Bot" or "Wenxin Yiyan." Two months later, Alibaba also launched "Tongyi Qianwen" - a large AI language model similar to GPT.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper