Hong Kong Privacy Watchdog Probes AI-Generated Porn Case at University

Hong Kong's privacy watchdog has launched a criminal investigation into a University of Hong Kong law student accused of creating AI-generated pornographic deepfakes of at least 20 female classmates and teachers, marking the first high-profile case of its kind in the city. The student received only a warning from the university, sparking public outrage over the perceived leniency and calls for stronger accountability. Current Hong Kong law criminalizes the distribution but not the generation of intimate images, leaving victims without legal recourse if the images are not shared publicly. The government acknowledges the rapid development of AI technology and is considering reviewing regulations and best practices to address emerging challenges. Experts warn this case may represent just the beginning of a larger issue involving non-consensual AI-generated imagery, with women's rights advocates criticizing Hong Kong's legal protections as lagging behind. The privacy commissioner emphasized that disclosing personal data without consent and with intent to harm could be a criminal offense, underlining the seriousness of the investigation.