Hangzhou man sentenced for deep-fake pornography

A man in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has been sentenced to prison and fined for using deep-fake technology to create and spread pornographic videos.

Yu, whose full name was not released, received a 7-year, 3-month prison term and a 60,000 yuan ($8,311) fine in November last year by the Xiaoshan District People's Court in Hangzhou. He was also ordered to pay 60,000 yuan in civil compensation.

Yu's crimes came to light in August 2022 after the Xiaoshan police received a tip during online patrols. Investigators discovered Yu had been using AI face-swapping software to create and distribute pornographic videos featuring celebrities and other public figures. He also offered custom deep-fake services to clients.

According to Yu's confession, he initially intended to promote AI face-swapping technology for legitimate purposes but turned to creating pornography after finding it more profitable.

Yu used social media platforms to attract customers, creating "viewing groups" where he shared deep-fake pornography and "customized groups" where users could request specific videos. Membership fees ranged from 198 yuan to 398 yuan, and Yu charged extra for customized videos based on length and complexity.

Authorities seized over 1,200 pornographic videos and 1,600 images from Yu's chat groups. Investigations revealed Yu had created deep fakes not only of celebrities but also of ordinary people, including some requested by romantically interested individuals without their consent.

In addition to creating and selling deep-fake pornography, Yu also sold the AI software and provided tutorials. He earned over 60,000 yuan from these sales.

The Xiaoshan District People's Procuratorate in Hangzhou pursued a public interest lawsuit against Yu, arguing his actions violated personal information rights. This lawsuit, tried by the Hangzhou Internet Court in July 2023, marked the first such case in China concerning AI face-swapping and personal information infringement.

The Hangzhou Internet Court ordered Yu to delete illegally obtained personal information, publicly apologize, and pay compensation.