On 26 June, Hong Kong’s Correctional Services Department released an AI‑generated anti‑drug video to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The clip, featuring colourful, upbeat graphics, was designed to shame drug users, but many viewers flagged it as turning harmful substances into a sort of “fashion statement.”
The unexpected backlash spread fast across social media, with users urging the department to remove the video and arguing that it sent the wrong message.
BBC Chinese Service reporter Martin Yip explains how the controversy unfolded and what it says about the limits of AI‑generated public education content.
