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| Actress Playing Zhao Lusi’s Mother-in-Law in “Love’s Ambition” Falls Victim to Face Theft |
Chinese entertainment world was thrown into chaos recently after actress Wen Zhengrong, known for playing Zhao Lusi’s mother-in-law in the hit drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), discovered multiple livestreams featuring her “face” and “voice” — none of which were real.
In these broadcasts, the fake Wen Zhengrong appeared to promote products, smile, and interact with fans in real-time.
She even “changed outfits” across different streams, giving the illusion of being live on several platforms at once. The problem? Wen Zhengrong herself wasn’t streaming at all.
Team Confirms It’s AI Face and Voice Theft
Her studio later confirmed that these were not harmless reuploads but AI-generated deepfakes, where Wen Zhengrong’s image and voice were cloned using advanced software.
The team immediately filed mass reports — up to 50 fake accounts in a single day — though new versions kept reappearing.
“Some creators only need one short video clip of her and a basic tool to generate fake livestreams,” her team explained, “but for us to take them down, we have to collect evidence, verify details, and go through endless platform reports. It’s exhausting.”
Wen Zhengrong Herself Steps In
In a rare move, Wen Zhengrong personally entered one of the livestreams using her AI-generated image.
When she commented, “You’re Wen Zheng Rong, then who am I?” the fake account blocked her on the spot.
She later said helplessly, “Right now, it’s difficult for me to even prove that I am myself.”
Fake Livestreams Exploit Celebrity Trust
Many of these fraudulent accounts sold products using Wen’s likeness, tricking fans into believing she genuinely endorsed them.
“We’ve never promoted or sold any of these items,” she clarified.
“They’re confusing viewers and damaging our credibility.”
This isn’t an isolated case.
AI-generated fake content — from bogus celebrity livestreams to “AI fan selfies” — has been spreading rapidly across Chinese social media.
The tools are easily accessible, often requiring nothing more than old footage and a few clicks.
Experts Call for Stricter Rules
Legal experts stress that AI impersonation isn’t just unethical — it’s illegal.
China’s Civil Code explicitly protects individuals’ portrait rights, and the Deep Synthesis Management Regulations forbid using AI to infringe on others’ identities.
A newer rule, the AI Content Identification Measures effective from September, also requires digital watermarks or “AI identity tags” on all AI-generated content — videos, images, text, or audio.
However, as this incident shows, enforcement remains weak.
Many platforms still fail to flag fakes quickly, and AI content often slips past moderation filters.
The Wen Zhengrong case exposes how easily identity theft can cross into the entertainment world, weaponising fame and fan trust.
Platforms, experts say, need to improve verification systems, real-time AI detection, and visible labelling of synthetic content.
As one industry insider put it, “If an actress like Wen Zhen Rong can’t prove she’s herself online, imagine how easy it is for ordinary people to fall victim.”
Wen Zhengrong’s question — “You’re me, then who am I?” — hits deeper than just personal frustration. It reflects a growing digital identity crisis where AI manipulation blurs the line between real and fake.
Source: Jimu News/Sina