China's cyberspace regulator issued draft rules on Friday for content providers that alter facial and voice data, the latest measure to crack down on "deepfakes" and mould a cyberspace that promotes Chinese socialist values.
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The rules are aimed at further regulating technologies such as those using algorithms to generate and modify text, audio, images and videos, according to documents published on the website of the Cyberspace Administration of China.
Any platform or company that uses deep learning or virtual reality to alter any online content, what the CAC calls "deep synthesis service providers", will now be expected to "respect social morality and ethics, adhere to the correct political direction."
The regulations provide for people to be protected from being impersonated without their consent by deepfakes − images that are virtually indistinguishable from the original, and easily used for manipulation or misinformation.
The rules stipulate fines of between 10,000 and 100,000 yuan ($1,600 and $16,000) for first-time offenders but violations can also lead to civil and criminal prosecutions.
The draft also provides for a user complaints system and mechanisms to prevent deep fakes from being used to spread false information. App stores will be required to suspend or remove providers of deep fake technology where necessary.
