Those who create or share artificial intelligence-generated videos depicting former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad grieving his late wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, could face legal action, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has warned.
The warning comes after a 27-second black-and-white video posted on TikTok by user @vinustudio.my went viral, reportedly attracting more than 745,000 views, 30,200 likes and thousands of shares.
The video shows Dr Mahathir appearing to wipe away tears, alongside AI-generated scenes depicting him embracing Hasmah, accompanied by emotional background music.
MCMC said it had contacted the relevant social media platforms and was reviewing the content to determine whether any laws had been breached.
“If the review finds that the content violates the law, action may be taken under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and other relevant legislation,” the commission said in a statement.
MCMC said the manipulation of authentic footage to mislead the public, distort context or undermine an individual’s dignity should not be taken lightly, particularly during times of personal loss.
While acknowledging the benefits of AI technology, the commission stressed that its use must be accompanied by responsibility.
“Technology should not be used to distort the truth or exploit a person’s grief at the expense of human dignity and values,” it said.
MCMC also urged the public not to create or circulate AI-manipulated content and advised users to report suspected material directly to the relevant social media platforms or authorities.
