South Korea to require advertisers to label AI-generated ads

South Korea will require all advertisers to label their ads made using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies starting in 2026. The new rules aim to curb the spread of deceptive promotions featuring fabricated experts or deep-faked celebrities endorsing food, pharmaceuticals, and other products on social media. The government plans to strengthen screening, removal, and fines for problematic AI-generated ads, especially to protect older consumers who may struggle to identify AI content. Advertisers and platforms will be prohibited from removing or tampering with the AI labels.

Officials said AI-generated ads have become widespread across platforms like YouTube and Facebook, promoting products from weight-loss pills and cosmetics to illegal gambling sites. To implement the labeling requirement, the government intends to revise the telecommunications act and related laws. Companies operating social media platforms will also be responsible for ensuring that advertisers comply with the labeling rules.

The AI-labeling initiative comes alongside broader plans to expand South Korea’s role in the AI era. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok emphasized the need to minimize technology-related side effects, while President Lee Jae Myung announced efforts to strengthen national AI capabilities, including investments in advanced semiconductor and AI-specific chip manufacturing. South Korean chipmakers, such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, currently hold more than 65% of the global memory chip market, and the government plans to expand chip production beyond the Seoul metropolitan area to southern regions.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-label-ai-ads-deepfake-6df668ae93489da7d448c66e53905bbb

Comprehension

When will South Korea begin requiring AI-generated ads to be labeled?
What types of products are often promoted using AI-generated ads?
Why are older consumers a particular concern for the government in this policy?
Which companies will be responsible for ensuring advertisers follow the labeling rules?
How does the AI-labeling initiative relate to South Korea’s broader technology plans?

Discussion

Should AI-generated content always be labeled in all countries? Why or why not?
How might AI-generated ads affect consumer trust in online products?
What challenges do you think social media platforms face in monitoring AI-generated ads?
How important is South Korea’s plan to expand chip manufacturing for the global AI race?
What are the ethical issues with using deepfakes or AI-made experts in ads?

Vocabulary

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Write a short paragraph explaining AI and its uses in daily life.
Deepfake – Find a news article or video online that involves deepfake technology and summarize it.
Deceptive – Create three sentences using “deceptive” in the context of advertisements or marketing.
Telecommunications Act – Explain in your own words what a law like the telecommunications act might cover.
Semiconductors – Draw or label a diagram showing where semiconductors are used in modern electronics.