AI Deepfake Ads Misuse Lin Xinru's Likeness, Prompting Legal Action
2026-10-19 | CHN | incident | reputational, rights
Our take
Lin Xinru was already the brand ambassador, so the shampoo ads only needed her consent. The AI version skipped that part and got a legal letter.
The facts
AI-generated advertisements featuring Lin Xinru's unauthorized likeness and voice appeared on Chinese social media platforms, promoting shampoo products. Despite being a brand ambassador, Lin Xinru did not consent to AI manipulation. Her team issued legal letters demanding removal, citing violation of image rights and reputational harm.