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93. Spirit Photographer: Are deepfakes a new problem?

In 1861 a man claims he can capture the dead on camera and disrupts the concepts of truth and reality in the process. Are deep fakes causing the same issues for us today?

In 1861 William Mumler claims to capture a spirit of dead on camera and offers grieving people the chance to sit with a lost loved one, one last time.

These controversial photographs unleashed a debate about the nature of reality and truth and marked a cultural moment which questioned whether what we see can really be believed.

But is this a new problem? Are deepfakes forcing us to examine the same questions today?

On this episode of Bad People, Sofie Hagen and Dr Julia Shaw discuss dystopian futures, deep fake technology, the uncanny valley, false memories and ask whether the law can really keep up.

CREDITS
Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen
Producer: Kate White and Lauren Armstrong-Carter
Assistant Producer: Hannah Ward
Editors: Anna Lacey
Music: Matt Chandler

Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland

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39 minutes

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