AI-generated videos of celebrities spark infringement and privacy concerns in Taiwan
AI-generated deepfake videos of actor Jackie Chan circulated on Chinese short-video platforms in early 2026, reportedly confusing viewers and generating revenue through platform monetization. His manager publicly questioned whether the unauthorized use of the actor's likeness for commercial purposes constituted infringement and criticized platform moderation policies.
What happened
Large quantities of AI-generated videos featuring actor Jackie Chan (周星馳) appeared on Chinese short-video platforms in early 2026. According to his manager Chen Zhenyu, these videos included content titled "AI Jackie Chan gunfight tutorial," "Jackie Chan AI photo generation one-key," and "Jackie Chan AI creation teaching," making them difficult to distinguish from authentic content and leading some viewers to believe they were genuine recent work by the actor.
Some creators reportedly monetized these videos through platform revenue-sharing, advertising income, and paid special effects features. Chen Zhenyu questioned whether these activities constituted infringement and criticized platform moderation policies for permitting users to generate and distribute such content.
Reported impact
Chan's fans expressed concern that the videos misrepresented the actor's likeness and confused audiences about whether content was authentic. Viewers reported encountering numerous such videos on the platform.
The videos reportedly generated commercial revenue for creators without the actor's authorization or consent.
Index analysis
The incident raises questions about the legal status of deepfake videos created from celebrities' likenesses without consent, particularly when monetized. The platform's role in facilitating the creation and distribution of such content was questioned by the actor's representative.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.