Overseasidol.com — Chinese actor Xiao Zhan has become the center of a new controversy after several short dramas circulating online were found to feature characters generated with AI technology that closely resemble his facial features.
The issue surfaced on March 10 when multiple short-form series began spreading across online platforms.
Viewers noticed that the characters in the videos appeared to replicate Xiao Zhan’s facial structure through artificial intelligence technology, raising concerns about unauthorized use of his likeness.
Following public criticism, some creators reportedly attempted to modify the videos by partially censoring the character’s face or blurring certain scenes.
In addition, the character’s name in some versions was changed to a slightly altered form, such as “Xiao Zhan” written with different ‘Xiao’ in Chinese character.
Despite these adjustments, the controversial content has not been fully removed.
Some internet users reported that although the titles no longer appear in the platform’s main search results, the videos can still be accessed through direct links.
Amid the debate, legal expert Li Zhenwu from Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm explained the potential legal implications of such AI-generated content.
According to him, if AI-generated images, videos, or audio can be recognized by the public as representing a specific individual, the content may constitute an infringement of that person’s rights.
He further emphasized that using AI technology to reproduce someone’s image or voice for financial gain could lead to serious legal consequences.
Under Chinese criminal law, if such actions involve large financial profits, they may fall under fraud-related offenses as outlined in Article 266 of the Criminal Law.
In severe cases, offenders could face prison sentences of more than ten years, along with fines or confiscation of property.
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