People in China earn between US$7 and US$15,000 by licensing faces to AI content producers
In China, an increasing number of digital face-licensing platforms are connecting ordinary individuals with content creators, enabling them to authorise the use of their likenesses in AI-generated short dramas, advertisements, and games. Since April, private “face-selling” transactions that once circulated within film and television industry chat groups have progressively transitioned to public…
In China, a growing number of individuals are earning between US$7 and US$15,000 by licensing their faces to AI content producers. Platforms like Yuanxiang Xinsheng, based in Shenzhen, and Xinzhua, based in Chengdu, have emerged to facilitate these transactions. Yuanxiang Xinsheng, launched in May, enables users to create digital actor profiles with customizable terms, while Xinzhua categorizes authorizations by usage scenarios such as TV commercials, films, animation, and games.
Users can specify restrictions on content, including prohibitions against horror or sexually explicit material. Digital actors can charge anywhere from 50 yuan (US$7) to 99,999 yuan (US$15,000) per use, depending on the platform and terms agreed upon. One man, Chen, charges 99 yuan for a single appearance, while a woman from Guangdong province, Kele, uses the platform to safeguard her digital identity.
Despite these opportunities, legal experts raise concerns over privacy and consent, particularly for minors, with some platforms employing contracts that may disadvantage users. Public opinion on social media is divided, with some viewing it as a new avenue for generating income while others question its market potential.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
