Channel 4 used the image of Queen Elizabeth II to warn viewers that "what we see is not always what it seems"; He added that it was a "severe warning" about fake news.
A British station broadcast a Christmas message in which a "fake" Queen Elizabeth II is seen dancing and the chain alerted the audience to question "if what we see and hear is always what it seems."
The true monarch traditionally delivers a speech on Christmas Day that is broadcast around the world, CNN recalls.
However, on this occasion, the message was followed by a digitally created forgery of Queen Elizabeth II, broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK.
The network said it intended to give a "stern warning" about the threat of fake news in the digital age, and its program director, Ian Katz, described the video as "a powerful reminder that we can no longer trust our own eyes. "
Channel 4 annually accompanies the Queen's traditional speech with an "alternative Christmas message". This message has been broadcast since 1993, says CNN, but in this 2020 it went further.
The video was manipulated using artificial intelligence technology. In the pictures the "fake" Queen Elizabeth talks about Prince Harry and Meghan's transfer to North America, saying: "There are few things more hurtful than someone telling you they prefer the company of Canadians." The "fake" queen also performed a Tik Tok dance routine.
Experts suggested that the broadcast could make the public think that this technology was used more often than it is, mentions The Guardian.
"We have not yet seen widespread use of deepfakes, except to target women," said Sam Gregory, director of programs for Witness, an organization that uses video and technology to protect human rights. “We have to be very careful about making people think that they can't believe what they see. If you haven't seen them before, this could lead you to believe that these counterfeits are a more widespread problem than they are, "he said.
In her true message, Queen Elizabeth II gave an emotional Christmas speech, seeking to instill hope, something present "in the darkest nights", to the British very affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"For many, this year will be marked by sadness: some mourn the loss of a loved one, friends and family feel lack of others, while for Christmas they would like a simple hug or a handshake," said the sovereign, from 94 years.
"If this is the case for her, you are not alone," she stated. The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed some 70,000 lives in the UK, one of the worst balance sheets in Europe.
