Deepfake Technology Shifts From Exploitation to Legitimate Tool
Once known primarily for nonconsensual pornography, deepfake technology finds new purpose in 2020 through documentary protection and historical storytelling.
Deepfake technology experiences a significant shift in 2020 as it moves beyond its notorious origins in nonconsensual fake pornography. While the vast majority of synthetic media still targets and exploits women, the growing power of manipulation algorithms sparks a wave of positive, humorous, and mundane applications that point toward a more constructive future.
One groundbreaking use emerges in the documentary "Welcome to Chechyna," which becomes the first film to utilize deepfakes for whistleblower protection. Director David France uses AI to graft the faces of global LGBTQ activists onto his subjects, preserving crucial facial expressions and emotions while shielding 23 individuals from torture or death in the Russian republic.
Meanwhile, MIT researchers Francesca Panetta and Halsey Burgund explore the technology's potential for storytelling by creating an alternative history of the 1969 Apollo mission. These innovative projects demonstrate how synthetic media evolves from a dark internet phenomenon into a versatile tool for journalism, protection, and creative expression.