Two Held for Spreading False Rumors of Auto Sales Drop Using AI, Posted 700K Fake Articles to Make $11K

Shanghai police recently announced that the Jiading Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau cracked a case on March 5 involving the use of AI technology to fabricate and spread false rumors about automobile manufacturers. The suspects, surnamed Liang and Guo, used AI-powered "rewriting" techniques to mass-produce and disseminate over 700,000 pieces of false information claiming that "multiple automakers experienced declining sales," aiming to attract online traffic. They illegally profited more than RMB 80,000 from these activities. Both suspects have now been placed under criminal compulsory measures in accordance with the law. Since the beginning of this year, Shanghai police have investigated 50 cases involving online rumors targeting enterprises, handled 69 individuals, removed over 4,600 pieces of false information, and suspended more than 270 offending online accounts. Previously, Yantai police also dismantled a similar criminal group that used AI to generate false rumors targeting brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei, and Li Auto. Twelve suspects were arrested in that operation, over RMB 1 million in illicit funds was seized, and more than 8,000 accounts were shut down.