Ethical Issues in Misinformation Generated by Generative AI: The Daejeon Zoo Wolf Escape Incident

초록

This study examines the problems caused by misinformation generated by generative AI in contemporary society and proposes the right to share unmanipulated information as a means of preventing such harms. As a theoretical foundation, it first explores changes in information production brought about by generative AI, the principles of AI ethics, information disorder caused by misinformation, and the concept of information justice. In the recent case involving the escape of a wolf from Daejeon O-World Zoo, AI-generated misinformation caused considerable confusion among citizens and public institutions. Content initially created out of personal curiosity or amusement resulted in broader social harm and undermined public trust in emergency safety alerts. It also interfered with citizens’ autonomous judgment and led to an unjust distribution of the harms and costs associated with misinformation. Furthermore, the incident threatened public safety and raised important questions of information justice. Although freedom of expression should be respected, it must be accompanied by appropriate responsibility and rigorous verification when information generated by AI is created, shared, and used. Accordingly, this study proposes measures to address these problems and reconsiders the meaning of justice in the age of AI. Key Words: Generative AI, Right to Unmanipulated Information, AI-generated Misinformation, Information Justice, Freedom of Expression □ Received: July 30, 2026, Revised: Aug. 16, 2026, Accepted: Aug. 20, 2026＊ First Author, Professor, Gyeongsang National Univ., Email: pgy556@gnu.kr** Co-author, Doctoral Course, Kyungpook National Univ., Email: cwi5107@naver.com*** Corresponding Author, Teacher, Handasa Middle School, Email: namwoo5547@naver.com

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