AI face-swap used without consent in Chinese short drama and theatrical production
Unauthorized AI face-swap technology was reportedly used to replace an actress's face with that of celebrity Dilireba in a Chinese short drama, and separately to produce unlicensed stage productions of a play authorized to Li Bihua, prompting the National Theatre to announce legal action.
What happened
An unnamed short drama titled "逆騎" (Ni Qi) reportedly used AI face-swap technology to replace a character's face with that of Chinese actress Dilireba without authorization. Viewers noticed the character's facial features changed significantly between shots, appearing unnaturally similar to Dilireba's face.
Separately, China's National Theatre announced it discovered unauthorized use of the stage play "青蛇" (Green Snake), officially authorized by Hong Kong writer Li Bihua, with companies performing unlicensed productions and using AI face-swap technology without consent.
Reported impact
Dilireba's fans expressed anger at the alleged infringement of her portrait rights and called on her talent agency to pursue legal action. Some platforms began modifying or deleting the disputed content after the issue was discovered.
The National Theatre stated it would vigorously oppose the infringement and pursue legal remedies against unauthorized use of the stage play and the improper application of AI technology.
Index analysis
Legal experts noted that using AI face-swap technology to create images of a person without their consent constitutes infringement of portrait rights and carries legal liability.
Governance controls
China's national internet authorities and relevant departments have issued regulations prohibiting the use of AI face-swap technology to generate pornographic videos and explicitly forbidding infringement of others' portrait rights.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.