So-called deepfakes, in which the faces of often prominent people are edited into explicit video recordings, are experiencing a worrying trend, not least since the spread of artificial intelligence. A British reporter wanted to investigate a report about this, but promptly became a victim.
Investigative journalist Cathy Newman reported in the Times that her work actually made her accustomed to seeing disturbing video material. “It was unmistakably my face, but it had been expertly placed on someone else’s naked body,” she said of her discovery.
Newman “completely dehumanized”
However, the video she discovered was “a grotesque parody” – for example, her signature curly hairstyle was replaced with straight hair. The video left her feeling “completely dehumanized” as she was shocked at how the yet-unknown perpetrator was able to “force” her into a series of sexual activities using readily available technology.
Newman and her team didn’t actually see themselves as the focus of the investigation — they initially wanted to use prominent examples like Taylor Swift, Giorgia Meloni, Jenna Ortega or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to demonstrate the problem of fake videos. Swift’s fake videos alone have now been viewed more than 45 million times online, the journalists write in their report – the five most popular porn sites specializing in deepfakes have been viewed almost 100 million times in just three months.
Explanation for strange hairstyle change
The problem is difficult to master, even if politicians are already trying. It was only at the end of March that the European Commission started the fight against political disinformation and deepfakes and published corresponding guidelines. In Great Britain, the producers of deepfakes will also be criminally prosecuted in the future.
But for Newman, that is not enough: “Lawmakers around the world are lagging far behind the technology and the perpetrators who want to use it to abuse women,” she called for more efforts. She was able to explain the strange hairstyle change during her research in her video – apparently the AI used still struggles with curls.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
