LayarHijau.com--On April 10, some netizens raised concerns over an online short drama that allegedly used AI to replace the original actor's face with that of well-known actress Dilraba Dilmurat. Her face appeared multiple times throughout the episodes. According to Red Star News (via Sohu), the short drama was available across several short drama streaming platforms.
Mr. Yan, a representative of one of the involved streaming platforms, stated that the show was a second-run drama — a production that had already been completed and aired elsewhere, then resold to third-party platforms for re-release.
The copyright holder had distributed the show to multiple platforms. On April 10, after discovering the issue, the platform began modifying the problematic episodes. As of publication time, the scenes featuring Dilraba’s face had been removed. By the morning of April 11, the account associated with the platform was no longer accessible — either penalized or set to private by the account owner.
Reporters contacted the production team of the short drama. A staff member responded that they needed to investigate before commenting. No official statement has been made so far. Lawyer Yang Qing from Taihe Tai Law Firm stated, “If AI is used to replace someone’s likeness in a video without permission, it could be considered a violation of portrait rights.”
This was not the first time this happened to Dilraba.
In 2023, Douyin influencer Hong Liang sparked outrage after posting an AI-edited video in which he appeared to kiss Dilraba, using footage from her popular drama You Are My Glory. The clip went viral and triggered strong backlash. Some fans were reportedly so angered that they physically confronted Hong Liang at his studio. The incident drew national attention to the dangers of AI manipulation in entertainment content.
The Bigger Picture: AI’s Legal and Ethical Dilemma
The unauthorized use of AI to replicate celebrity appearances highlights growing ethical and legal concerns. While China has regulations to protect portrait rights and manage deepfake content, enforcement remains inconsistent. As generative AI tools evolve rapidly, the line between creativity and violation becomes increasingly blurred. Misusing AI can harm a person’s image, income, and even safety — raising questions about how society should respond.