The rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies in China has led to the emergence of a new market. People can now license their facial images (biometric faces) for use in advertisements, mini-series and other digital content produced by artificial intelligence for a fee.
New platforms allow users to provide their faces for a fee ranging from 15 to 700 US dollars. Producers can select suitable faces on the platforms based on age, gender and appearance characteristics and use them in AI-generated images.
Users can determine which projects their faces will be used in, how many times they will be shown and the minimum price. The platforms also monitor unauthorized uses on the Internet and provide legal support to users in case of legal disputes.
One of the main reasons for the emergence of this market is the rapid growth of AI content in China. According to reports, more than 95% of the 128,000 micro-series broadcast in the first three months of 2026 used artificial intelligence in the production process.
Meanwhile, legal challenges related to the unauthorized use of faces through AI are also growing. In the past three years, the Guangzhou Internet Court alone has investigated nearly 700 cases of AI-related face theft. In a landmark ruling this year, the Beijing Internet Court confirmed that it is illegal to use a person’s face without their consent to be altered by AI.
Experts believe that while licensing platforms help protect copyrights, once people share their biometric data, they will not be able to fully control how it will be used in the future. This creates new privacy and security risks as AI technologies develop.
