DEEPFAKE Frank Matcham, Genealogy site MyHeritage has introduced a tool that uses deepfake technology to animate the faces in photographs. Here we bring to life Frank Matcham architect of Blackpool’s Grand Theatre – Do you find the feature “creepy” while others would consider it “magical”.

MyHeritage has said it has not included speech to avoid the creation of “deepfake people” (much like Tom Cruise deep fake you may have seen recently in the news). It comes as the UK government considers legislation on deepfake technology.

 

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DEEPFAKE Frank Matcham with Genealogy site MyHeritage

We all remember the Deepfake Queen in which Channel 4 delivered the alternative Christmas message (see our second MyHeritage HM The Queen Deepfake following her visit to the theatre in).

Most recently The Law Commission is about to consider new proposals making it illegal to create deepfake videos without the person’s consent. How this will affect people who have passed is yet to be known.

In a quote to the BBC MyHeritage said “in order to prevent abuse, such as the creation of deepfake videos of living people”.

“This feature is intended for nostalgic use, that is, to bring beloved ancestors back to life,” it wrote in its FAQs about the new technology.

But it did acknowledge to the BBC that “some people love the Deep Nostalgia feature and consider it magical, while others find it creepy and dislike it”.

“The results can be controversial, and it’s hard to stay indifferent to this technology.”

Leave us your comments on Twitter and Instagram;

DEEPFAKE: Genealogy site @MyHeritage introduce a tool that uses #deepfaketechnology to animate the faces in photographs. Here we bring to life #FrankMatcham architect of #Blackpool‘s @Grand_Theatre – Is it “creepy” or “magical”?@frankmatchamsoc Read more https://t.co/Ol9vsxgVIH pic.twitter.com/26tWOGsDHK

— Grand Theatre Blackpool (@Grand_Theatre) March 3, 2021