Taiwanese actor's face used in AI-generated Japanese videos without consent
Taiwanese actor Meng Hao discovered that his face had been used without consent to create deepfake videos appearing in Japanese short-form video content. His father-in-law discovered the synthetic video while browsing and questioned him about it, revealing the unauthorized use. Meng Hao expressed concern about rapid AI development and its impact on performers.
What happened
Taiwanese actor and model Meng Hao discovered his likeness had been used to create AI-generated videos without his knowledge or consent. His father-in-law discovered the deepfake video while watching Japanese short-form video content and asked Meng Hao if he had begun working in the AI video market, prompting Meng Hao to realize he had no involvement in creating the content.
Meng Hao stated he was unaware of when or how his face had been used: 'I don't even know when I went to shoot this myself.'
Reported impact
Meng Hao expressed concern about the rapid development of AI-generated content and its impact on actors and content creators. He noted the experience made him more acutely aware of how quickly AI technology is advancing.
Despite initially treating the incident as a matter of humor, Meng Hao stated that as a performer, the experience of having his likeness misused directly showed him the changes brought by the rapid development of AI-generated content, making him 'cherish every real opportunity to stand in front of the camera.'
Index analysis
The incident demonstrates the vulnerability of public figures' biometric data to unauthorized use in synthetic media generation. The actor's face was identifiable enough in the deepfake that a family member recognized it in unrelated video content, suggesting the quality and realism of the AI-generated video.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.