Romania is preparing to pass a law establishing new rules on the use of deepfake technology after an influx of fake videos. Videos have spread online in which celebrities appear to present get-rich-quick schemes targeting Romanian users.
The government plans to pass the law before autumn, when Romania is due to hold general and presidential elections. Parliament is set to pass the deepfake legislation in the coming weeks, local media report.
The law will force those who use deepfake technology for artistic purposes to warn that the images and information are not true. Otherwise, they will face a fine of up to RON 200,000 (40,000 euros). Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitisation Bogdan Ivan stated:
“Especially, in the context of the elections, this law is necessary. Recently, more and more such situations have appeared in social networks. Normally, those entities that promote such content can be held accountable.”
Among the videos published on the Internet is one featuring the Governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), Mugur Isarescu. The Central Bank of Romania responded by warning of deepfake posts featuring Isarescu fraudulently using his image and voice to persuade the public to make financial investments on a non-existent platform.
If you have followed such false ads, immediately report these situations to the competent authorities.
