Britain’s Channel 4 last week produced an incredibly real parody video of Queen Elizabeth’s annual message on Christmas Day, which the network claims to highlight the dangers of “deepfake” technology.
Channel 4 has been launching its own “alternative” Christmas message for almost 30 years and decided to make a deepfake video this year as a warning about the potential dangers of technology.
The technique of manipulating someone’s face and voice in a “deepfake” video is “easier than most people think,” the channel said in a separate video, showing how it synthetically recreated the queen with the help of actress Debra Stephenson.
“This Christmas message has two parts,” said a Channel 4 representative in the video. “There is a serious part, which is really a message that people need to think about where they get information from and can trust the people who provide it. … Obviously, on the other hand, we are doing a little detail on Christmas Day , we want it to be fun. We want it to be fun. “
FALSE AI-GENERATED VIDEOS CAN BE A THREAT TO SECURITY, LAWYER WARNING
In this undated photo issued on Friday, December 25, 2020, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain records her annual Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England. (Associated Press)
“Much of our world today reaches us through these screens,” says Stephenson (voicing the queen) after doing a dance for TikTok in the video. “Which brings me back to the question of whether or not what we see and hear is always what it seems.”
CREEPY DEEPFAKE BOT CREATED FAKE NUDES BY ‘ADDRESSING’ IMAGES OF MORE THAN 100,000 WOMEN: REPORT
The short video, which also included a joke about the lack of toilet paper – about commoners learning what it’s like to have a “difficult situation on the throne” – and references to Harry and Meghan’s departure and accusations against Prince Andrew, received mixed reactions.
Simon Boyle of The Sun said that although he is not a monarchist, the queen always gets it right and the video parody is “a million miles away from the public’s mood – and not as smart or funny as they think it is”.
British journalist Benjamin Butterworth called the video “terrible”.
“For a channel that highlights the dangers of fake news and adulterated content online in its news production, it is very disappointing to see him indulging in the same ‘comedy’ methods and normalizing blurred lines.”
Brexit proponent Nigel Farage simply wrote: “How dare they”.
Still, some others liked it.
“I think it was not only funny, but it also conveyed the point about fakes well and how much of it exists on the various screens that we are currently glued to,” wrote a Twitter user.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Another said, “Great job and just highlights how easy it is to spread fake news.”
Channel 4 called the video “a severe warning about advanced technology that is allowing the proliferation of false information and false news in the digital age”.