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China warns of national security risks from AI use
Beijing (EFE).- China’s State Security Ministry spoke of the risks posed by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which it said could become a threat to the protection of sensitive data, and national security if it falls into ill-meaning hands.
In a statement released Wednesday on its official WeChat account, the ministry said that while AI has boosted economic and social development, its misuse could facilitate harmful activities such as the generation of disinformation.
The ministry also said this technology could be used by “foreign forces hostile to China” to “cause unrest” among the population of the Asian giant.
Authorities highlighted the ability of AI systems to generate deepfake content, which combines deep learning algorithms with manipulated images, sounds, or videos.
Although these techniques have legitimate applications in industries such as film, advertising, and video games, authorities said their use for illicit purposes can violate individual rights and become a tool to “confuse public opinion.”
The statement also spoke of the ability of generative AI systems to collect, store, and even disclose sensitive personal information, something that could be exploited by foreign intelligence services to carry out “subversion, infiltration, and sabotage activities” in the country.
Another source of concern is algorithms that, manipulated through intentional biases, could be used to spread “tendentious ideologies.”
The ministry urged improving citizens’ abilities to “discern the veracity” of information.
China already regulated AI services in 2023 to ensure they respect “fundamental socialist values,” prohibiting these platforms from “generating content that threatens national security, territorial unity, and social stability.”
Despite the rapid development of the AI industry in China, with chatbots from companies such as Alibaba, DeepSeek, Tencent, and Bytedance, concerns have arisen about the application of this type of technology in the Asian country due to the heavy censorship imposed by the authorities.
The ministry regularly reports on cases of espionage on its official WeChat account and has repeatedly urged Chinese citizens to be wary of suspicious job offers or requests for information, especially from foreign sources, and to avoid sharing confidential data on the internet.
In 2023, the ministry called for the mobilization of all society to “prevent and combat espionage” and announced a series of measures to “strengthen national defense” against “foreign intelligence activities.” EFE
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