A Chinese industry association issued a statement on Thursday condemning the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including face-swapping, voice cloning and unauthorized use of actors' images and audio for AI model training.

The Actors Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations said such practices have seriously infringed on the legitimate rights and interests of performers and disrupted the normal order of the audiovisual industry.

The committee said actors' portrait rights, voice rights and rights related to their artistic image are protected by law, and that no individuals or organizations may collect, use, synthesize or disseminate such materials without formal written authorization from the person concerned.

It also stressed that AI-generated content linked to specific actors — including face-swapped short videos, voice imitation performances, virtual human replicas, commercial endorsements and altered or adapted audiovisual materials — could still constitute infringement even if labeled "non-commercial," "for public welfare" or "personal fan-made content."

The committee urged short-video, livestreaming and film distribution platforms to strengthen content review, establish long-term authorization verification mechanisms, remove existing infringing content and tighten control over newly uploaded AI-generated material that violates relevant rules.

AI developers and service platforms are urged to step up compliance checks, especially when users upload actors' portraits, audio or video materials, and to ensure proper authorization is obtained.

According to the statement, the committee will launch regular online monitoring, evidence preservation and coordinated rights protection actions, and will support actors in pursuing legal action against malicious infringers as well as platforms that fail to fulfill their review responsibilities.

At the same time, the committee said it supports the compliant use of AI to promote innovations in film, television and the arts, and called for the establishment of transparent industry standards for the authorization and revenue-sharing of portraits, voiceprints and artistic images.

The growing misuse of AI technologies has raised concerns over infringement. For example, Chinese actress Wen Zhengrong claimed that she became a victim of AI face theft, as China Central Television (CCTV) revealed multiple fake livestreams using her image — either AI-generated fakes or unauthorized re-broadcasts, according to CCTV in November 2025.

Also, in June 2025, the Haidian District Market Regulation Bureau in Beijing investigated a case involving a company that used AI technology to impersonate the well-known CCTV host Li Zimeng in a deceptive advertisement. This marked the first time that Beijing's market regulatory authorities applied the Advertising Law o to take action against the misuse of AI technology for fraudulent advertisements impersonating famous individuals.

Global Times