Recently, the Pingliang Public Security Bureau’s Network Security Brigade in China has cracked the first case of using ChatGPT artificial intelligence software to fabricate fake news. On April 25th, during a routine online patrol, the cyber security team of Kongtong Branch of the local public security bureau discovered an article titled “Train Collides with Road Workers in Gansu This Morning, Resulting in 9 Deaths” on a Chinese news platform (Baijiahao). Through further examination, it was found that the information provided was false.
Following an investigation, it was noted that 21 different Baidu accounts had published the same article during the same time period, and it had been clicked over 15,000 times. Additionally, all the accounts were discovered to be registered under one company from Shenzhen.
The police officers found the legal representative of the company, Mr. Hong, and noted that he had used a method of earning money from online traffic through WeChat friends and purchased a large number of Baijiahao accounts. To avoid being detected by plagiarism detection software on Baijiahao, he used ChatGPT AI software to modify news elements and upload them illegally on his accounts for personal gain.
Mr. Hong had spread false information over the internet and it was viewed by many people, and his actions constitute a major crime of provocation and troublemaking. As a result, the law enforcement authorities have taken criminal coercive measures against the suspect. The case is still under further investigation.
The company mentioned in the article is a self-media company from Shenzhen, registered under the name of Mr. Hong. It was notable for being the first self-media company in China to be exposed for profiting off of spread fake news over the internet.
Mr. Hong is the legal representative of the self-media company, as well as the main suspect in this case. It was noted that in order to benefit from spreading fake news, Mr. Hong purchased a large number of Baijiahao accounts and utilized ChatGPT software to avoid plagiarism detection software. He has since been found and is currently facing criminal coercion from the law enforcement authorities.
