In recent months, a disturbing new trend has emerged on Japanese social media and video-sharing platforms: the industrial-scale production of AI-generated videos vilifying Chinese people. According to a recent report, this content forms a profit-driven chain, exploiting algorithmic systems and social tensions for financial gain.
The AI Hate Factory
The process is disturbingly efficient. Creators, often working via online freelance platforms, receive orders to produce scripts depicting fictionalized scenes of so-called "disruptive behavior" by Chinese individuals. Using simple prompts, AI tools can generate highly provocative and defamatory video clips within minutes. Many lack clear disclaimers identifying them as fiction, allowing them to spread rapidly as if they were real events.
Embedded advertising turns views directly into revenue, creating a powerful financial incentive. One former Japanese government official, now in his 60s, told media that producing such content provides him with a steady monthly income. He admitted to having never visited the Chinese mainland nor interacted with its citizens, basing his work solely on personal dislike.
Fueled by Politics and Profit
Analysts point to a confluence of factors driving this phenomenon. Professor Shinichi Yamaguchi of the International University of Japan identifies a structural flaw in the "attention economy," where content designed to provoke negative emotions like anger and resentment garners significantly higher engagement and ad revenue. This economic model inadvertently rewards the creation and dissemination of hateful content.
The trend reportedly saw a significant uptick starting in late 2025, coinciding with a period of strained bilateral relations. Experts like Lyu Chao, director of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University, argue this is not isolated online chaos but a product of Japan's current political environment intersecting with exploitative social media dynamics. He draws a cautionary parallel to the manipulation of public opinion in Japanese society in the past.
Broader Implications for Society and Relations
The implications extend far beyond online platforms. By lowering the barrier to manufacturing convincing false narratives, AI risks accelerating the systemic stigmatization of entire groups of people. These mass-produced fake videos, often disguised as news, can deeply poison the public's understanding and hinder genuine people-to-people exchanges.
Lyu Chao warns that if left unchecked, this trend will not only damage the foundation of societal perception in Japan but also severely hinder bilateral relations and tarnish Japan's international reputation in the long term. The report highlights how freelance platforms have begun hiding related job postings from public view, suggesting a growing awareness of the issue's sensitivity.
The rise of this AI-generated hate-for-profit chain presents a complex challenge, touching on technology ethics, media literacy, platform responsibility, and the fragile ecosystem of international relations in Asia.
