China’s top court issues guidelines on deepfakes and AI disputes

China’s top court has drawn a legal line around the use of artificial intelligence, saying people cannot create or distribute recognisable digital copies of others without consent. The restriction covers cloned faces and voices, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The Supreme People’s Court guidelines address a growing range of disputes linked to AI, including unauthorised deepfakes, voice cloning, algorithmic price discrimination and false information generated by AI. They also provide legal recourse for people whose faces have been digitally altered and used to spread false and defamatory sexual claims.

Service providers may face legal liability if they fail to take timely action after being notified that their systems have produced content infringing on other people’s rights. The rules come as Chinese authorities invest heavily in domestic AI while the country competes with the United States for leadership in the technology.

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strengthen risk-awareness and ensure that AI is secure and controllable

President Xi Jinping has warned about the risks of AI. Speaking at a conference in July, he urged officials to “strengthen risk-awareness and ensure that AI is secure and controllable.”

Tao Kaiyuan, vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, said the guidelines aim to “balance development and security.” She said they clarify procedural rules for AI-related disputes. Where agreement remains difficult, the guidelines leave room for later clarification as more experience accumulates and conditions become suitable.

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balance development and security