Taipei Mayor Calls Deepfake Probe 'State Violence,' Cites US, UK AI Programs

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has strongly condemned the government's actions against former Kuomintang new media director Wayne Wei, who is being investigated for using deepfake technology to create a video featuring President Lai Ching-te's voice. Chiang described the situation as "state violence," questioning the legal basis for the police demanding the removal of the video without a clear warrant.

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The entire incident is state violence.

Chiang argued that the video, created for a rally promoting anti-drug efforts, clearly indicated it was produced using AI technology. He believes that ordinary people would not mistake it for President Lai speaking directly and therefore would not be misled. The mayor cited examples from the United States and the United Kingdom, where AI simulations of public figures like Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II are used for satire and commentary, falling within the scope of free speech.

He suggested that the timing of the police action, coinciding with a major rally in Taipei, was intended to stifle freedom of speech and the press, creating a chilling effect. Chiang asserted that such actions accumulate public anger and that someone must be held accountable. He reiterated that he is not considering a presidential run in 2028 and remains focused on his re-election campaign for Taipei mayor.

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In the United States, there is a program called Sassy Justice that uses AI to simulate Trump, not only his voice but also his appearance, to satirize current events.

Separately, Chiang commented on the upcoming trip of a Democratic Progressive Party mayoral candidate to the United States, wishing him well but emphasizing that the public's immediate concern is the recent "poisoned oil" incident.

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The police demanding the video be taken down without clear legal grounds or a warrant should be examined for whether it violates due legal process.