Deepfakes of dead will spark Black Mirror-style chaos leaving us questioning life & death, says ex-White House tech boss
Deepfakes of Dead Will Spark Black Mirror-Style Chaos Leaving Us Questioning Life & Death, Says Ex-White House Tech Boss
In a chilling warning, the former White House technology boss has cautioned that the rise of deepfake technology could lead to a Black Mirror-style dystopian future where the lines between life and death become increasingly blurred.
Speaking at a recent conference, Dr. Mona Siddiqui, who served as the Chief Technology Officer under President Barack Obama, painted a dire picture of a world where deepfakes of deceased individuals are used to create fake news, propaganda, and even virtual reality environments that are indistinguishable from reality.
“Imagine a world where your loved one has passed away, but their digital presence lives on,” Dr. Siddiqui said. “They can still communicate with you, appear in videos, and even interact with you in virtual reality. But it’s not really them. It’s a deepfake created by someone with malicious intentions.”
Dr. Siddiqui believes that the technology, which is already being used to create realistic videos of people doing and saying things they never actually did or said, will soon become sophisticated enough to create convincing digital avatars of the dead.
“This technology has the potential to spark chaos and confusion on a global scale,” she warned. “It could be used to create fake news stories, propaganda campaigns, and even virtual reality environments that are indistinguishable from reality.”
Dr. Siddiqui pointed to the recent example of a deepfake video that was created of a speech by President Obama, which went viral on social media before it was debunked as a fake.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “As the technology advances, we will see more and more instances of deepfakes being used to manipulate public opinion and undermine trust in institutions.”
The former White House tech boss called for urgent action to regulate the use of deepfake technology before it’s too late.
“We need to have a serious conversation about the ethical implications of this technology and how we can prevent it from being misused,” she said. “We cannot afford to wait until it’s too late. The consequences could be catastrophic.”
Dr. Siddiqui’s warning comes as experts warn that deepfake technology could also be used to create fake videos of people engaging in criminal activities, or even fake videos of people confessing to crimes they did not commit.
The technology has already been used to create fake pornographic videos of celebrities and politicians, and experts warn that it could soon be used to create fake videos of people engaging in other forms of illegal activity, such as terrorism or child abuse.
“This technology has the potential to unleash a tidal wave of chaos and destruction,” Dr. Siddiqui said. “We need to take action now before it’s too late.”
In conclusion, the rise of deepfake technology poses a significant threat to our society and could lead to a Black Mirror-style dystopian future where the lines between life and death become increasingly blurred. It is imperative that we take action now to regulate the use of this technology before it’s too late and the consequences become catastrophic.
