Deepfake Queen delivers alternate Christmas speech to warn of misinformation

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The real British monarch traditionally delivers a speech on Christmas Day that is broadcast around the world.
But her speech on Friday at 3 p.m. was followed by a digitally created fake of the Queen, broadcast on Channel 4 and voiced by an actor, who warned viewers to wonder ‘if what we see and hear is always what it seems’ .

The broadcaster said the video was to provide “a clear warning about the advanced technology enabling the spread of disinformation and fake news in a digital age.”

Channel 4 annually accompanies the Queen’s traditional speech with an “alternative Christmas message.” This message has been broadcast since 1993.

It has long sparked controversy. Previous people who have delivered the alternative speech include Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s former president. Other notable guests include American whistleblower Edward Snowden, Jesse Jackson and the children who survived the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

But the 2020 iteration is quite different.

This year, Channel 4 hired VFX studio Framestore to create a fake Queen Elizabeth who spoke candidly about personal matters.

The video has been manipulated using artificial intelligence technology.

Discussing Prince Harry and Meghan’s move to North America, the deepfake Queen says, “There are few things more painful than someone telling you they prefer the company of Canadians.”

The fake queen also performed a Tik Tok dance routine.

Queen Elizabeth says

“Deepfake technology is the terrifying new frontier in the battle between misinformation and truth,” Channel 4 Program Director Ian Katz said in a statement.

“This year’s alternative Christmas address – seemingly delivered by one of the most famous and trusted figures in the country – is a powerful reminder that we can no longer trust our own eyes.”

But Sam Gregory, program director at WITNESS, a group that trains activists around the world to use video safely, warned against exaggerating the threat posed by deepfake technology.

“Deepfakes hype (currently) values ​​hypothetical threats from perfect political deepfakes … over real threats,” Gregory tweeted Dec. 24 in response to news of the alternate speech.

In her true Christmas message, the Queen praised the frontline workers for their efforts during the pandemic and offered her condolences to families unable to celebrate together due to restrictions associated with the coronavirus.

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