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Push for AI regulations amid rise in hyperrealistic content
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A figurine is placed in front of a sign reading "Artificial Intelligence" in this illustration taken on March 31, 2023. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic)
T
he spread of hyperrealistic images generated with AI has prompted fresh calls for regulation requiring watermarking and source traceability to prevent the spread of misinformation.
A recent social media protest against nickel mining in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, with the hashtag #SaveRajaAmpat, drew public attention to several images showing damaged islets in the archipelago. While the striking visuals helped amplify the protest, concerns emerged after some of the realistic images were revealed to be AI-generated.
This case shows the rapid evolution of AI, which increasingly blurs the line between fabricated and authentic imagery, raising both awe and alarm over its potential misuse to spread misleading or false information.
While prevailing Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law prohibits the spreading of misinformation, the country has no regulation on AI-generated content that could be used to spread false information.
Digital rights group Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) called for a dedicated regulation to govern AI use, particularly to define what constitutes misinformation and disinformation in the context of generative AI.
“New AI regulations must clearly establish the accountability of AI developers in mitigating the risks of their tools being misused by users to spread misinformation, while also outlining the responsibilities of AI users who intentionally distribute misleading content,” SAFEnet executive director Nenden Sekar Arum said on Wednesday.
She said that to prevent the public from being misled by hyperrealistic AI-generated content, the regulations should “mandate watermarking on generative AI content and include mechanisms to trace their origin, such as the content source, identifying the AI model used and its developer”.
