DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Huang Wei-che criticizes 'deepfake technology Voldemort'; Chiang Wan-an retorts: 'State violence creates a chilling effect'

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che accused Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an of being a "deepfake technology Voldemort" for allegedly using synthesized audio.
  • Chiang Wan-an countered by questioning the use of "state violence" to stifle free speech and create a chilling effect.
  • The dispute arises from the use of AI-generated deepfake technology, with concerns about its potential to erode trust and manipulate public opinion.

A heated exchange erupted between Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an over the use of artificial intelligence to create deepfake audio recordings. Huang Wei-che, during a press conference at the Legislative Yuan, released a synthesized voice recording of Chiang Wan-an and urged him not to be a "deepfake technology Voldemort."

Don't be a deepfake technology Voldemort.

— Huang Wei-cheAccusing Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an of using synthesized audio

Chiang Wan-an, responding to the accusations, questioned the use of "state violence" to suppress freedom of speech and create a chilling effect. The controversy stems from a case where a producer of anti-drug promotional videos allegedly used AI to synthesize President Lai Ching-te's voice. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an admitted to commissioning the production.

Huang Wei-che argued that using AI to forge someone's voice is a criminal act and criticized Chiang Wan-an, a legal professional, for deliberately misleading the public. He emphasized that unauthorized use of AI to simulate voices could violate personality rights and legal responsibilities, and should not be normalized.

Why use state violence to restrict freedom of speech and create a chilling effect?

— Chiang Wan-anResponding to accusations about deepfake technology

Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang also weighed in, stating that the biggest issue with deepfake technology is its erosion of public trust in the government. He raised questions about the legal boundaries, including potential violations of personal data, forgery, and election laws, leaving it to the courts to define the line between free speech and illegal activity.

Using AI deepfake technology to forge someone's voice is clearly a criminal act.

— Huang Wei-cheCriticizing the use of synthesized voices

Chiang Wan-an, however, shifted the focus, questioning why "state violence" is used to restrict speech and create a chilling effect. He also raised concerns about the presence of a company's general manager in key government expert meetings, implying a potential cover-up related to hazardous oil products and questioning who is protecting whom.

The biggest problem with deepfake technology is that it destroys people's trust in the government.

— Shen Po-yangCommenting on the societal impact of deepfakes
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog