Deepfake queen to deliver Channel 4 Christmas message

This year's Channel 4 alternative Christmas message will be delivered by a deepfake of the Queen.

While the Queen is delivering her traditional message on the BBC and ITV, her digitally created doppelgänger will be sharing its "thoughts" on Channel 4.

Buckingham Palace told the BBC it had no comment on the broadcast. https://m.vlive.tv/post/0-20494147

Channel 4 said the intention was to give a "stark warning" about fake news in the digital age.

Deepfake technology can be used to create convincing yet entirely fictional video content, and is often used to spread misinformation.https://m.vlive.tv/post/0-20494146

In the message, the deepfake will try its hand at a TikTok viral dance challenge.

'Countless imitations'

The five-minute message will refer to a number of controversial topics, including the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to leave the UK. It will also allude to the Duke of York's decision to step down from royal duties earlier this year after an interview he gave to the BBC about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. https://m.vlive.tv/post/0-20494168

The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell was not impressed: "There have been countless imitations of the Queen. This isn't a particularly good one.https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501174

"The voice sounds what it is - a rather poor attempt to impersonate her. What makes it troubling is the use of video technology to attempt to sync her lips to the words being spoken."

https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501192

media captionWATCH: Channel 4 says its deepfake video of the Queen is meant to act as a warning

While current technology does allow for voice deepfakes, the voice of this deepfake will be dubbed by British actress Debra Stephenson.https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501199

The TV star was previously the voice of a puppet of the monarch in the 2020 revival of satirical sketch show Spitting Image.

Stephenson said: "As an actress it is thrilling but it is also terrifying if you consider how this could be used in other contexts."https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501220

The deepfake has been created by Oscar-winning VFX studio Framestore.

Deepfake detection

Deepfakes first rose to prominence in early 2018.

At the time, a developer adapted cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques to create software that swapped one person's face for another.

However, the process has since become much more accessible.https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501234

There are now numerous apps that require just a single photo in order to substitute a Hollywood actor for that of the user.

Earlier this year, Microsoft unveiled a tool that can spot deepfakes.

The firm said it hoped to help combat disinformation, but experts warned it was at risk of becoming outdated due to advances in technology.https://m.vlive.tv/post/0-20494238

Nina Schick, author of Deep Fakes and the Infocalypse, told the BBC there was growing concern about the other malicious ways deepfake technology could be used. https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501260

"While it offers tremendous commercial and creative opportunities, transforming entire industries from entertainment to communication, it is also a technology that will be weaponised.

"Used maliciously, AI-generated synthetic media, or deepfakes, are sophisticated forms of visual disinformation."

This year's Channel 4 alternative Christmas message will be delivered by a deepfake of the Queen.

While the Queen is delivering her traditional message on the BBC and ITV, her digitally created doppelgänger will be sharing its "thoughts" on Channel 4. https://m.vlive.tv/post/1-20501268

Buckingham Palace told the BBC it had no comment on the broadcast.

Channel 4 said the intention was to give a "stark warning" about fake news in the digital age.

Deepfake technology can be used to create convincing yet entirely fictional video content, and is often used to spread misinformation.

In the message, the deepfake will try its hand at a TikTok viral dance challenge.

'Countless imitations'

The five-minute message will refer to a number of controversial topics, including the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to leave the UK. It will also allude to the Duke of York's decision to step down from royal duties earlier this year after an interview he gave to the BBC about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell was not impressed: "There have been countless imitations of the Queen. This isn't a particularly good one.

"The voice sounds what it is - a rather poor attempt to impersonate her. What makes it troubling is the use of video technology to attempt to sync her lips to the words being spoken."

 

media captionWATCH: Channel 4 says its deepfake video of the Queen is meant to act as a warning

While current technology does allow for voice deepfakes, the voice of this deepfake will be dubbed by British actress Debra Stephenson.

The TV star was previously the voice of a puppet of the monarch in the 2020 revival of satirical sketch show Spitting Image.

Stephenson said: "As an actress it is thrilling but it is also terrifying if you consider how this could be used in other contexts."

The deepfake has been created by Oscar-winning VFX studio Framestore.

Deepfake detection

Deepfakes first rose to prominence in early 2018.

At the time, a developer adapted cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques to create software that swapped one person's face for another.

However, the process has since become much more accessible.

There are now numerous apps that require just a single photo in order to substitute a Hollywood actor for that of the user.

Earlier this year, Microsoft unveiled a tool that can spot deepfakes.

The firm said it hoped to help combat disinformation, but experts warned it was at risk of becoming outdated due to advances in technology.

Nina Schick, author of Deep Fakes and the Infocalypse, told the BBC there was growing concern about the other malicious ways deepfake technology could be used.

"While it offers tremendous commercial and creative opportunities, transforming entire industries from entertainment to communication, it is also a technology that will be weaponised.

"Used maliciously, AI-generated synthetic media, or deepfakes, are sophisticated forms of visual disinformation."

A north suburban community college is partnering with an organization devoted to providing opportunities for women and people of color to offer a free web design course.

As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to take an economic toll, YWCA Evanston/North Shore and Oakton Community College have teamed up to offer the course as a way to help students find in-demand jobs they can work safely from home.

While the course is open to anyone, “the spirit of the grant is to work with women, and in particular women of color, who are seeking employment in the tech industry,” said Shannon Callahan, director of women’s leadership and economic advancement for YWCA Evanston/North Shore.

The national organization with local branches works to eliminate racism and empower women, according to its mission statement.

The program is part of a national partnership with Google, YWCA USA and YWCA Madison, Callahan said. The Evanston YWCA branch is one of five participating in a national pilot program that if successful could be rolled out to other regions across the country.

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YWCA Evanston/North Shore received a grant from Google to continue the program for three years, Callahan said. It will begin with a first course in January and a second in April.

“Historically we see many people come into computing through another career. Either they’re not satisfied with where they’re at or have had a change,” said Bob Sompolski, dean of STEM and health careers at Oakton Community College.

That has been especially true during this year’s pandemic, organizers said.

“Some people were furloughed or out of work, some were lucky to still be working but wondering, ‘I’d like a different job and with the technology, maybe I need to improve my skills,” Sompolski said. “It definitely was a big theme we heard in the orientations.”

For the incoming January class, Callahan said some of those who are taking advantage of the program were still working, but felt they were putting themselves in harm’s way by continuing to travel to their job site.

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Participants in the intense, 12-week course will finish knowing how to create customized and interactive websites using HTML and Cascading Style Sheets, among other technology skills, according to information from Oakton Community College.

The curriculum is modeled after Oakton’s Web Page Development course, part of the school’s Computer Information Systems program.

Students will also learn skills necessary to help them land a job, like interview practice, resume writing and active listening, among others, organizers said.

The workload will require about 30 hours per week of a student’s time, organizers said. When finished, graduates will be prepared to pursue full-time permanent employment, paid internships or freelance careers in technology, according to the program’s website.

To qualify, interested applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, be interested in a career in information technology and not currently in possession of a college degree, according to the organization.

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Graduates will earn seven credit hours from Oakton. Students seeking to continue their education when the course is over can work toward a computer information systems certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree.

Courses are available at Oakton’s campuses in Skokie and Des Plaines, or at a community college in their area, according to the website.

“We’re so, so appreciative of the partnership with Oakton,” Callahan said. “They’re bringing this expertise and strong foundation and credibility to the program. That is huge for us and the reason we’ve had such a great response.”

As for Oakton, Sompolski said college officials see the program as part of the larger culture they want to cultivate on campus.