TAIWAN-POLITICS
Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau stated that it has investigated 219 cases involving false election information and disinformation, of which 134 cases and 176 individuals have been transferred to the prosecutor's office for further investigation. The authorities urge the public to verify the source of any unverified election information and avoid forwarding it.

Taiwan police have investigated 219 nationwide cases involving election-related misinformation and deepfake videos, with 134 cases involving 176 people referred to prosecutors for further investigation. As the Nov. 28 local elections and nationwide referendum approach, police warn that AI-generated fake videos and audio could be used to impersonate candidates and fabricate statements, potentially influencing voters' decisions.

According to a Nov. 12 report by The Taipei Times, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said the rapid development of AI-generated content technology means election misinformation is no longer limited to text and images, but also includes highly realistic video and audio.

Police said deepfake technology can mimic a candidate's appearance, voice and speaking style to create seemingly authentic statements or events, which can then spread rapidly through Facebook, Threads, YouTube and messaging apps, making it difficult for the public to distinguish fact from fiction.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau said deliberately distributing fabricated videos or audio during an election to mislead voters or manipulate public opinion could infringe on candidates' rights, affect voters' decisions and undermine the fairness of the election.

To address the risks, police have deployed AI deepfake detection, digital forensics and cyber-intelligence analysis technologies to help identify suspicious content, preserve evidence and trace its source. Candidates who discover content that appears to use their voice or image without authorization may apply to the Criminal Investigation Bureau for forensic verification.

If the content is confirmed to be a deepfake video, candidates can request action through the Ministry of Digital Affairs' election deepfake reporting platform. Police said online platforms that receive a notice meeting the relevant requirements must restrict access to, remove or take down the content within two days.

Under Article 104 of the Election and Recall Act, anyone who spreads rumors or false information with the intention of helping or preventing a specific candidate from being elected could face criminal liability. Disseminating such content through deepfake videos or other related material carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

The Central Election Commission has also announced that a ban on the release and discussion of election polling will take effect at midnight on Nov. 18 and remain in force until voting ends at 4 p.m. on Nov. 28. During the ban, political parties, media outlets and individuals may not publish, report, forward, comment on or cite election polls.

The Central Election Commission urged the public to verify sources and cross-check official information and reports from credible media before forwarding election-related videos, images or social media posts, so they do not become conduits for misinformation.