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China wants red flags on all AI-generated content posted online

(2024/09/16)


China's internet regulator on Saturday proposed a strict regime that will, if adopted, require digital platforms to label content created by artificial intelligence.

The Cyberspace Administration of China [1]announced its draft plan, which will require platforms and online service providers to label all AI-generated material with a visible logo and with metadata embedded in relevant files.

The draft proposes that logos appear in several locations in a text, image, video, or audio file.

[2]

In audio files, Beijing wants a voice prompt to inform listeners about AI-generated content at the start and end of a file – and, as appropriate, mid-file too. Software that plays audio files will also need to inform netizens when they tune in to AI content.

[3]

[4]

Video players can get away with just posting notices about the content at the start, end, and relevant moments during a clip.

Netizens who post AI-generated content will be required to label it as such. If they use generation tools provided by a platform, they'll be required to identify themselves – and a log of their activities will be retained for six months.

[5]

Some labels denoting AI-made content will be applied dynamically, based on metadata embedded in AI-generated content.

If metadata is absent from a file, service providers will be required to analyze content. If an org suspects that a file was made by AI, it will need to label it as such.

[6]EU tries to pin down China on definition of 'important data'

[7]China ponders creating a national 'cyberspace ID'

[8]China's internet cleanup campaigns are going so well it needs a new one to protect kids

[9]China could be doing better at censorship, think tank finds

The draft code calls for China's internet platforms to share the smarts they develop as they work to detect AI content, so that all can improve their efforts.

Failing to do any or the above will mean trouble for platform operators and individuals.

The draft is just that, and comments on it are open until October. However Chinese regulators aren't famed for making big changes after drafts like this appear – this draft is likely the regime Beijing wants to see implemented.

[10]

It's pretty much business as usual: China always wants its tech giants to police what comes online, and to tie user-generated content to an identifiable individual. Doing so means China can enact its vision of sovereign control over its local internet – which translates into criticism of the Communist Party or government being extremely unlikely to make it online, or persist for long if its does. ®

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[1] https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-09/14/c_1728000676244628.htm

[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZugBxesilpP9azlCbOfNpwAAAUI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZugBxesilpP9azlCbOfNpwAAAUI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZugBxesilpP9azlCbOfNpwAAAUI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZugBxesilpP9azlCbOfNpwAAAUI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/29/eu_china_data_talks/

[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/29/china_cyberspace_id_proposal/

[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/15/cac_summer_cleanup/

[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/21/china_censorship_underfunded/

[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZugBxesilpP9azlCbOfNpwAAAUI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/


Jonathon Green

Not generally a huge fan of the Chineses position on regulation of on-line content, but I have to say I think they might be on to something this time…

lglethal

I was just about to post the same thing.

We all know the CCP's reason for wanting this is not necessarily something we agree with, but that doesn't mean it's not a solution we also want/need.

Our reasons might be different, but we can agree for once on the solution...

Tom Chiverton 1

Of course they want hard attestation. Helps to track down anyone critical of them for shipping to reeducation camp.

Nothing to do with AI content here.

Khaptain

"Of course they want hard attestation. Helps to track down anyone critical of them for shipping to reeducation camp."

We're only a few years behind but closing in fast. I've now seen how people are being arrested in the UK for online posts which don't agree with the current narrative. I don't see that as being any different than what the CCP are doing.

What's important is not the subject, it's just the fact the not agreeing with the narrative has become a crime .. which means that as the narratives change then so do the laws. In other words they will change their narratives to ensure that you have commited a crime as they see fit.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/04/gender-critical-feminist-charged-over-allegedly-transphobic-tweets

Basti

Sometimes the Chinese “government” does have a really good idea. Ok, the internet is mostly “red” afterwards, but that's just the way it is.

Technically, of course, de facto impossible to implement.

Gene Cash

> Technically, of course, de facto impossible to implement.

But easily done with legal means. Slap 'em with a fine or jail for not labeling their AI trash.

Not so bad

Anonymous Coward

Sometimes the Chinese “government” does have a really good idea. Ok, the internet is mostly “red” afterwards, but that's just the way it is.

Technically, of course, de facto impossible to implement.

ChoHag

While we're doing this, can we also ask the fraudsters and scammers to add some labels so we can finally put an end to crime? And don't forget to set the evil bit on all your malicious packets!

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