Senior Guangxi official suggests using AI to combat telecom fraud

According to Chen Gang, Party secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and deputy to the National People's Congress, AI should be used to help combat AI-driven telecommunication fraud.

Chen's suggestions came while deliberating the work reports of the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate on Sunday at the sidelines of the two sessions. He recommended that lawmakers address AI-related problems as they emerge during technological development but hold off on legislation until the technology matures and conditions are ripe. Premature laws that prove unenforceable could backfire.

According to Beijing News, Chen cited the example of criminal groups exploiting AI for telecom fraud. "We must adopt a 'fight-fire-with-fire' approach — using AI itself to combat AI-driven telecommunication crimes. As the saying goes, 'When evil grows one inch, justice must grow ten.' This is how we tackle the societal harms brought by technological advancement."

Speaking candidly about regional challenges, Chen noted that Northern Myanmar-based telecom scams have hit Guangxi particularly hard.

Many young people, lured by get-rich-quick fantasies, voluntarily go to these fraud compounds, while others are deceived. These operations employ sophisticated big data algorithms — they analyze your responses and feed you tailored bait, according to Chen.

Multiple AI research teams in Nanning, Guangxi's capital, are developing specialized AI anti-fraud models. Once operational, these could dramatically improve case-solving efficiency and shrink the space for such crimes nationwide, he said.

Chen emphasized that AI safety extends beyond legal frameworks to encompass privacy protection and ethical concerns, requiring multidimensional exploration. "I suggest the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate authorize pilot programs in selected regions. Guangxi stands ready to pioneer reforms in AI security, accumulating practical experience to inform national legislation."