On 26 June, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department released an AI‑generated video for the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Its aim was to warn about drug use, but the clip attracted criticism for presenting prescription drugs and other substances in an alluring visual style.
Public reaction across Hong Kong and wider Asia was swift, with social media users and policy analysts arguing that the treatment could unintentionally glamorise the behaviour the video sought to deter.
BBC Chinese service’s Martin Yip reports how the footage, created with artificial‑intelligence techniques, has sparked debate among experts who are increasingly sceptical of such digital campaigns.
The department’s decision to employ complex AI imagery raises questions about the ethics of automated content and its potential effects on youth audiences.
