Man detained for AI-generated celebrity gambling rumor
A 36-year-old man in mainland China used an AI content generation tool to create a false post claiming a top celebrity had gambled away 1 billion yuan in Macau. The rumor spread widely across Hong Kong and China, disrupting public order before authorities identified and detained the creator for 8 days.
What happened
On March 10, 2025, Xu Moqiang, a 36-year-old man, used an AI content generation function within a social media platform called "Xiaoshu" to create a post with the headline 'Top-tier celebrity exposed for overseas high-stakes gambling, losing 1 billion yuan, sparking an avalanche of public opinion.'
The post claimed that a male celebrity gambled continuously for 7 days at the Wynn Macau VIP lounge and lost 1.03 billion yuan in liquid assets, requiring him to mortgage 3 properties and a private jet to repay debt and borrow from Macau organized crime groups. The post was published online to seek traffic and illegal profits.
The rumor spread rapidly across social media platforms in Hong Kong and mainland China over several days, with related topics frequently appearing on social media trending lists. Multiple celebrities including Jay Chou and Huang Xiaoming publicly clarified they were not the subject of the rumor.
Reported impact
The rumor caused rapid spread and expansion across the internet, triggering extensive online discussion and speculation about the identity of the 'top-tier celebrity.' Related rumors and topics frequently appeared on social media hot searches and trending lists.
The incident severely disrupted public order, according to the Public Security Bureau's statement.
Index analysis
The AI system's content generation function was used to fabricate false information about a celebrity's gambling losses. The false claim included specific details such as the location (Wynn Macau), the amount (1.03 billion yuan), duration (7 consecutive days), and collateral details designed to make the false narrative appear credible.
Governance controls
The Chinese Public Security Bureau's Cybersecurity Bureau investigated the incident and determined that Xu Moqiang had intentionally used the AI generation tool to create the false post. The Bureau announced administrative detention of 8 days as a penalty for creating and publishing the rumor.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.