Technology is an amazing thing, but it can also be incredibly scary at the same time. The one big area of technology that perhaps scares me the most though is deepfakes – where videos can be created using artificial intelligence to show people doing things are actually not doing. It’s a technology that is remarkably realistic and frighteningly dangerous that is likely to only increase the amount of fake news and conspiracy theories that we already find on the internet.
Its dangerous technology that governments around the world want to ensure doesn’t make too much of an impact with even China (as reported by Reuters) drafting a law that makes it a criminal offence to publish deepfakes or indeed fake news without disclosure. The rules go into effect on January 1st, 2020 and will be enforced by the China’s Cyberspace Administration.
You know a certain piece of technology can be dangerous when even the Chinese government is quick to ensure they use it reasonably. The Chinese legislation is similar in approach to what the US and EU have taken regarding deepfakes and will hopefully ensure that the technology is not used in a dangerous manner regardless of where it is created. Many tech companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google are also looking at ways of better identifying deepfakes hoping to ensure they do not get widely distributed.
I’m all for technological advancement and believe that this technology can add a lot of value to certain entertainment industries. However, with great power comes great responsibility and we all know that humans don’t handle power too well and we certainly need so legislation like this.
Last Updated: December 2, 2019
For the Emperor!
December 2, 2019 at 11:23
If somebody can deepfake me some memories or holiday pictures with a GF, I would be greatfull. And possibly less sad ?
Original Heretic
December 2, 2019 at 11:57
Me, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind some “Eternal Sunshine” type service, to forget some of what I’ve been through.
For the Emperor!
December 2, 2019 at 13:32
Problem is that if we forget that stuff, we forget the lessons learnt and might repeat them…older me could not handle some of those mistakes again…all that would help is to transpose old me into my younger self with all my knowledge including stocks and lotto number and outcomes of big betting events ?
Original Heretic
December 2, 2019 at 13:40
I’ve had some farking crazy ex’s. They are best forgotten.
I mean, honestly, when I hug a girl I’ve been friends with for over a decade and my friend ends up nearly assaulted by my (then) gf? That’s not something I wanna have to remember.
For the Emperor!
December 2, 2019 at 14:43
But how will you warn others of this crazy women then? Or be able to give people like me her number? ? I feel you man, I feel you. Wish I didn’t remember the last one either, or her kid. But then I would forget to avoid people like that…and have the bee-with-an-itch ghost me again and sit with a Batman-Minion gift 2 years later as a reminder…
Ok, I think I am convincing myself now that forgetting could be better! Bring on the brain changer!
*ZAP*
So, games, tech and movies are cool, right? ?
konfab
December 2, 2019 at 11:23
There isn’t anything inherently nasty about deepfakes so long as two conditions in society are satisfied.
1) Absolute freedom of speech
2) People and politicians are judged on their actions, not on sophistry and words.
If you are judged by your actions and not by your words, fake news and deep fakes mean nothing.
The larger threat IMO is the threat to the film industry. Technology that makes it much cheaper to transfer a face onto someone will eliminate the need for well paid actors.
But this will make video games with branching dialog amazing, as theoretically, you can simply synthesise all the dialog in the game.
HairyEwok
December 2, 2019 at 11:32
Incoming Winnie the Pooh deepfake faces just to piss off China even more.