Blab AI
Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Removes AI-Generated Anti-Drug Video After Public Backlash
When a government department’s attempt to warn teens about drugs turns into a viral controversy, it raises questions about the limits of AI in public messaging.
On 26 June 2026, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD) released a 90‑second AI‑generated short film titled Obsession: Sugar‑Coated Trap in time for the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The clip was meant to deter drug use among young people, yet it was quickly condemned online for appearing to glamorise the very substances it was supposed to condemn.
The video employed synthetic characters to personify four drugs—cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine and etomidate (locally known as “space oil”). Each drug was cast as a member of a fictional girl group, given a catchy nickname, and shown performing on stage while describing the euphoric sensations associated with use. Slogans encouraging viewers to “join” the group punctuated the opening half. Only after the midway point did the tone shift: the performers were transformed into gaunt male figures, and narration and subtitles listed the health and social harms of the drugs.
Within hours of the release, the CSD pulled the original version. At about 1 a.m. on 27 June, the department uploaded a revised edit that cut the opening performance and character introductions. In a statement, the CSD explained that the new version was designed to make the dangers of drug use clear within the first ten seconds and to avoid any misunderstanding of the campaign’s message.
The department said it takes public feedback seriously and had promptly reworked the internally produced video to place greater emphasis on the risks of drug abuse. It added that it would continue reviewing and refining its publicity strategies to communicate more effectively on social media platforms.
Public reaction was swift and largely critical. Commenters questioned whether the creative concept was appropriate for an official anti‑drug message, noting that viewers who did not watch the clip in full might absorb only the seemingly positive portrayal presented at the beginning. Some expressed disbelief that the video had been produced by a government department.
In its statement, the CSD stressed that the project had been handled entirely by its in‑house multimedia and social media team and did not involve additional public expenditure. It reiterated that the campaign’s original aim was to use youth‑oriented techniques to highlight how drugs can be disguised as attractive but ultimately harmful substances.
The incident comes at a time when Hong Kong’s drug‑abuse statistics show a decline in overall use but a rise in certain substances. In 2025, the number of reported drug users fell by 4 % in the first half of the year, yet the use of etomidate among young people increased, prompting concern among authorities.
The CSD’s decision to withdraw and edit the video reflects broader challenges faced by public‑sector campaigns that employ generative AI. While AI can produce engaging content quickly, the technology can also generate material that is difficult to control and may convey unintended messages. The episode underscores the importance of clear editorial oversight and rapid response mechanisms when deploying AI‑generated media in public health messaging.
As of now, the CSD has not announced further changes to the campaign or additional releases. The department remains committed to refining its approach to anti‑drug communication in the digital age.
On 26 June 2026, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD) released a 90‑second AI‑generated short film titled Obsession: Sugar‑Coated Trap in time for the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The clip was meant to deter drug use among young people, yet it was quickly condemned online for appearing to glamorise the very substances it was supposed to condemn.
The video employed synthetic characters to personify four drugs—cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine and etomidate (locally known as “space oil”). Each drug was cast as a member of a fictional girl group, given a catchy nickname, and shown performing on stage while describing the euphoric sensations associated with use. Slogans encouraging viewers to “join” the group punctuated the opening half. Only after the midway point did the tone shift: the performers were transformed into gaunt male figures, and narration and subtitles listed the health and social harms of the drugs.
Within hours of the release, the CSD pulled the original version. At about 1 a.m. on 27 June, the department uploaded a revised edit that cut the opening performance and character introductions. In a statement, the CSD explained that the new version was designed to make the dangers of drug use clear within the first ten seconds and to avoid any misunderstanding of the campaign’s message.
The department said it takes public feedback seriously and had promptly reworked the internally produced video to place greater emphasis on the risks of drug abuse. It added that it would continue reviewing and refining its publicity strategies to communicate more effectively on social media platforms.
Public reaction was swift and largely critical. Commenters questioned whether the creative concept was appropriate for an official anti‑drug message, noting that viewers who did not watch the clip in full might absorb only the seemingly positive portrayal presented at the beginning. Some expressed disbelief that the video had been produced by a government department.
In its statement, the CSD stressed that the project had been handled entirely by its in‑house multimedia and social media team and did not involve additional public expenditure. It reiterated that the campaign’s original aim was to use youth‑oriented techniques to highlight how drugs can be disguised as attractive but ultimately harmful substances.
The incident comes at a time when Hong Kong’s drug‑abuse statistics show a decline in overall use but a rise in certain substances. In 2025, the number of reported drug users fell by 4 % in the first half of the year, yet the use of etomidate among young people increased, prompting concern among authorities.
The CSD’s decision to withdraw and edit the video reflects broader challenges faced by public‑sector campaigns that employ generative AI. While AI can produce engaging content quickly, the technology can also generate material that is difficult to control and may convey unintended messages. The episode underscores the importance of clear editorial oversight and rapid response mechanisms when deploying AI‑generated media in public health messaging.
As of now, the CSD has not announced further changes to the campaign or additional releases. The department remains committed to refining its approach to anti‑drug communication in the digital age.
