China Detains Two For Spreading False Male Panda Mating Story Online
Chengdu police detained two men for using AI to forge and spread misleading claims about male pandas mating, disrupting online orders.
Two men have been arrested by Chinese authorities for allegedly spreading false information claiming that two male giant pandas had successfully mated in the wild, a report that quickly went viral on social media platforms and sparked widespread public attention.
Local law enforcement agencies in Chengdu detained the suspects after discovering that the information circulating online was fabricated. Police said the false claim was presented through a digitally altered image that appeared to show an unprecedented mating event involving two male giant pandas, a biological impossibility according to wildlife experts.
The suspects were identified only by their surnames, Dong, a 29-year-old from Liaoning province, and Gao, a 33-year-old from Zhejiang province. According to a report cited by the Global Times, investigators found that the two men had “deliberately distorted facts” and used “technical means” to create or manipulate the image, which authorities believe was generated or modified using artificial intelligence tools.
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The fabricated screenshot, titled “Chengdu: two male Sichuan giant pandas successfully mate in the wild for the first time,” spread rapidly across social media networks. Officials said the viral post caused confusion among the public, disrupted normal online order, and created negative social impact by misleading users and undermining trust in scientific information related to wildlife conservation.
Chinese authorities reiterated that spreading false information online is a punishable offense under the country’s cybersecurity and public order laws, particularly when it involves fabricated content or misuse of emerging technologies such as AI. Police urged social media users to verify information through official sources and warned against creating or sharing misleading content that could harm public understanding or social stability.
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