By RK Shih/Staff
TAOYUAN — A 51-year-old man surnamed Wang [汪] was arrested and released on bail following the dissemination of AI-generated misinformation regarding a non-existent mass poisoning event in Kaohsiung.
The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office [桃園地檢署] reported that starting April 25, Wang allegedly posted fabricated news reports on multiple Facebook community pages. The posts claimed that numerous individuals in Kaohsiung had fallen ill and were hospitalized after consuming potato products. To enhance the credibility of the hoax, police say Wang utilized generative AI to create realistic images of newspaper layouts and television news chyrons.
The Kaohsiung City Health Bureau [高雄市衛生局] issued an emergency clarification denying the reports and filed a formal complaint with law enforcement. Following an investigation, Wang was taken into custody on April 27.
During questioning, Wang admitted to the acts. Prosecutors initially sought to detain the suspect, citing the severity of the misinformation and the potential for witness tampering. However, the Taoyuan District Court [桃園地院] ruled on April 28 that while the evidence was substantial, the charges under Article 46-1 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation [食品安全衛生管理法] carry a maximum sentence of three years.
The judge granted Wang release on NT$20,000 bail, citing the principle of proportionality. The court stated that detention was not warranted for a crime with this maximum penalty, provided there is no flight risk or immediate threat to the investigation.
Authorities emphasized that the fabrication of food safety emergencies can cause significant public alarm and financial damage to local businesses. The case remains under investigation to determine if the suspect acted alone or as part of a greater coordinated effort.
