Forging Commander-in-Chief's Voice Poses 'Extremely High Risk' to Taiwan, Lawmaker Warns

Taiwanese legislator Shen Po-yang has issued a stark warning regarding the creation of deepfake videos, particularly those mimicking the voice of the commander-in-chief. He described such acts as extremely high-risk, especially given Taiwan's geopolitical situation, stating, "This is usually something the enemy does."

Shen's comments came amid a controversy involving a Kuomintang (KMT) social media editor who was questioned by police for producing a deepfake video featuring President Lai Ching-te. The incident sparked debate, with some netizens asking Shen, who has a legal background, for his insights.

Shen elaborated on the legal complexities, explaining that forgery requires intent to impersonate and the potential to cause harm. He noted that while deepfakes can be a form of impersonation, the crucial factor for legal action is whether there is a "possibility of misbelief" leading to actual harm. He suggested that directly using the president's voice to issue orders would likely meet these criteria.

However, Shen acknowledged that the current case, involving a video related to food safety and not directly issuing commands, falls into a "gray area." He expressed reservations about whether existing laws, such as those concerning document forgery, adequately cover such sophisticated manipulations. Shen stressed the necessity of specific legislation against deepfakes, noting that current laws primarily address fraud and election-related offenses, which may not encompass this particular scenario. He implied that the KMT's actions were politically motivated, suggesting they were "guided by others" and attempting to politicize the issue.