"Little Change in Facial Expression in the Video"... Heated Debate Among Netizens
Controversy Subsides After Bride Reveals Her Bare Face
A bride in China became embroiled in an artificial intelligence (AI) manipulation controversy due to her exceptional appearance. The controversy only subsided after she revealed her bare face.
On May 2, multiple foreign media outlets, including World Journal in China, reported on the experience of Mar Shaoqing, a 25-year-old bride who held her wedding in Gansu Province, northwestern China, on April 26 (local time).
Mar Shaoqing wore a traditional wedding outfit at her ceremony, and a video showcasing her striking facial features was posted online, sparking debate among local internet users.
Some claimed that Mar Shaoqing’s expression barely changed as she changed into seven different wedding dresses, insisting that the video was created using AI manipulation. Others argued that when the video was played in slow motion, abnormal phenomena such as unnatural ear shadows and pupil reflections?commonly seen in deepfake technology?could be observed.
Woman Mar Shaoqing Involved in Controversy Over Wedding Video Manipulation [Image Source=World Journal Capture]
In response, some users countered that Mar Shaoqing’s appearance was genuine. They found past photos of her family and argued, "Genetics is the most powerful AI."
As the controversy grew online, a relative of Mar Shaoqing stepped forward. The relative released her high school graduation photo, which showed her looking the same as in the wedding video.
Additionally, the relative explained, "Our family has practiced Islam for generations, and in Islam, plastic surgery and heavy makeup are prohibited."
Two days after the wedding, Mar Shaoqing herself posted a three-minute video revealing her bare face. After this video was released, the controversy subsided, and praise for Mar Shaoqing’s beauty spread online.
In the video, Mar Shaoqing said, "Thank you for watching over my happiness," and asked people to respect the natural beauty of all women.
Meanwhile, China’s CCTV reported that in the first half of last year alone, scams using AI face manipulation technology caused damages amounting to 1 billion yuan (approximately 195.7 billion won).
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