SAPS sounds alarm over AI-generated police images

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State province has issued a stark warning to the public against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate and disseminate images portraying oneself as a police officer. Such AI-created images, where individuals appear clad in an SAPS uniform or depict themselves being detained by law enforcement, are cautioned to be avoided, as impersonating a police official constitutes a criminal offense.

The SAPS emphasizes that while such AI-generated images may appear innocuous, they carry the potential to be mistaken for authentic photographs, leading to significant repercussions if utilized to misguide or deceive others.

Section 68 of Act 68 of 1995 prohibits individuals from falsely portraying themselves as members of the police or fostering the notion of association with the service. Furthermore, the SAPS emblem and badge are legally safeguarded. The SAPS underscores that the official emblem cannot be replicated, modified, or utilized without obtaining the necessary permissions. This applies to the inclusion of the SAPS emblem or insignia on personal social media profiles or any personal representation.

Even members of the SAPS are not exempt from adhering to these guidelines when engaging in social media activities. Section 5 of the National Instruction 2017 stipulates that the utilization of photographs of police officers in uniform and SAPS insignia on private social media accounts is strictly regulated without obtaining the requisite authorization.

The police service is particularly apprehensive about the burgeoning trend of AI-generated photographs showing individuals being apprehended. These fabricated images may falsely imply that a person has been arrested or entangled in criminal activity, despite such events never having transpired.

While the mere creation of an AI image does not imply a person has been guilty of a crime, the manner in which these images are employed, their intended portrayal, and whether they serve to deceive or impersonate a police official are critical considerations. When the SAPS uniform, insignia, or reported arrests are implicated, it is imperative for individuals to exercise responsibility.

Lieutenant-General Thabang Lesia, the SAPS provincial commissioner in the Free State, concludes by emphasizing that the SAPS emblem represents authority and public trust, and must not be appropriated as a costume or to fabricate an untrue identity.