China's AI Face‑Licensing Platforms Create Digital Stock Actors

In China, online platforms such as New Claw and ActID allow individuals to license the digital use of their faces, earning between $15 and $700 per image. Contributors upload photos, set minimum prices (often 500 yuan) and grant limited usage rights; platforms take a commission and charge creators per episode of AI‑generated content. The marketplaces supply virtual actors for short‑form dramas, ads, games and other media, supporting the rapid production of microdramas—over 95% of the 128,000 microdramas released in the first quarter of 2026 employed AI‑generated faces. ByteDance has removed more than 85,000 videos that featured unauthorized AI reproductions of people's likenesses. Chinese law requires consent for biometric data and forbids fabricating a person’s likeness without permission. The Guangzhou Internet Court has handled roughly 700 AI‑related disputes, including face‑swapping and copyright cases, highlighting enforcement challenges as the industry expands.