Deepfake Law in China
China has the strictest deepfake regulation of any major economy — mandatory watermarking of AI-generated content since 2023, consent requirements for subject depiction, and platform obligations enforced by the CAC.
- Status
- enacted
- Jurisdiction
- China
- Effective
- Jan 2023
- Statute
- Regulations on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services 2023
China implemented the world's first comprehensive AI-generated content regulation in January 2023. Under the "Deep Synthesis Regulations" and subsequent rules, AI-generated content must be watermarked, subjects must consent to depiction, and platforms are liable for hosted content.
Key provisions
Deep Synthesis Regulations (effective January 2023). Require:
- Mandatory watermarking (visible or machine-readable) on all AI-generated synthetic content distributed in China.
- Consent from any real person whose likeness or voice is used in synthetic content.
- Platform review of AI-generated content before distribution.
- Service provider licensing — operators of deep-synthesis services must register with the CAC.
- Real-name verification for users of synthetic-media tools.
Interim Measures for Generative AI Services (August 2023). Supplemented the earlier regulations for general-purpose generative AI (ChatGPT-type services). Requires content-moderation aligned with Chinese laws (including political speech restrictions), algorithm filing with the CAC, and socialist-values alignment for training data.
Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). Biometric data provisions apply to voice and facial features in synthetic content.
CAC enforcement
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is the primary enforcer. Enforcement activity through 2024–2025 has included:
- Suspension of multiple deep-synthesis service providers for non-compliance.
- Fines on platforms hosting unlabeled AI-generated content.
- Takedown orders and account suspensions.
Practical implications
For organizations operating in China or targeting Chinese users:
- AI service providers: licensing is mandatory. Operating a deep-synthesis service in China without CAC registration is not legally viable.
- Platforms: pre-distribution review obligations require substantial content-moderation infrastructure.
- Foreign operators: the combination of data-localization requirements, licensing, and content-moderation obligations makes China challenging for many foreign AI providers.
The Chinese framework is the global precedent for mandatory watermarking and is frequently cited in policy debates elsewhere.