Australian Horror Film "Together" Sparks Controversy After Release
"Digital Alteration Is More Subtle Than Deletion and Harder to Detect"
An Australian horror film released in China has sparked controversy after it was revealed that a same-sex marriage scene was altered using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to depict a heterosexual marriage.
On October 1 (local time), The Guardian in the United Kingdom reported on this issue.
The film in question is the Australian movie "Together," which premiered in some Chinese theaters on September 12. It was released in South Korea in early September. The story follows a young couple who move to the countryside and experience bizarre physical changes.
The controversy arose over a scene in which two men get married. It was discovered that, during screening, AI face-swapping technology was used to replace one of the men's faces with that of a woman.
Viewers compared the altered scene with the original and posted it on social media, raising suspicions that Chinese authorities had conducted censorship through "digital alteration" rather than simple deletion or editing. Local internet users criticized the move, stating, "AI synthesis seriously distorts the creator's intent," and added, "What is scarier than a horror film is the reality in China."
As the controversy grew, the film's distributor canceled the nationwide release that had originally been scheduled for September 19.
A scene from "Together" where gender was changed using AI, causing controversy. Screenshot from The Guardian
This is not the first time China has faced controversy over censorship of foreign content. In the 2018 film "Bohemian Rhapsody," scenes depicting the main character Freddie Mercury's struggles with his sexual identity were deleted. The sitcom "Friends" was also broadcast with the lines of a lesbian character removed. The Chinese government officially maintains a neutral stance on homosexuality, stating that it "neither supports nor opposes" it. However, in practice, it has tightened regulations on LGBTQ+ content and organizations.
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