7am How China uses persuasive technology for social control
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Jul 29, 2025 Daria Impiomabato, a senior analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, discusses the manipulative power of generative AI and persuasive technologies in China. She reveals how the Chinese government uses these tools for disinformation, particularly in Taiwan's elections, creating AI-generated propaganda that distorts political narratives. Daria highlights the collaboration between the state and tech companies in fostering emotional control and underscores the global implications of such authoritarian practices, calling for urgent regulatory measures to protect democracy.
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China's AI Disinformation in Taiwan
- China uses AI disinformation campaigns targeting Taiwan's elections to confuse voters and polarize society.
- Fake AI-generated videos misrepresent political candidates, undermining trust in democracy.
China's Tech-Government Integration
- China's government closely controls tech companies through military-civil fusion to align AI with state goals.
- Emotion detection AI is used to predict vulnerability and manipulate or suppress groups effectively.
Training AI on Uyghur Detainees
- Chinese companies trained emotion detection AI by interrogating Uyghur detainees in Xinjiang camps.
- This method shows a disturbing use of surveillance tech to enhance authoritarian control.