KMT affiliate asked to remove deepfake video of President Lai's voice

Taiwanese police have requested the removal of a video that allegedly uses artificial intelligence to deepfake President Lai Ching-te's voice. The video, titled "You Can't Afford Oil," was created by Wei Chun-yu, a member of the KMT-affiliated "Wind Direction Co., Ltd." and a subordinate of KMT Chairman Eric Chu.

The incident occurred as the Kuomintang (KMT) party held a rally in Taipei protesting imported oil. Police visited Wei Chun-yu to demand the video's removal, leading to sharp criticism from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin Chu-yin. Lin condemned the KMT, labeling them a "family of fraudsters" for their alleged involvement in creating and disseminating the deepfake content.

This event highlights growing concerns in Taiwan about the use of AI-generated deepfakes in political discourse. The technology's ability to convincingly mimic voices and faces raises significant questions about misinformation and its impact on public trust and democratic processes. The KMT has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the video or the police request.