Can journalists ethically use AI to mask the identity of a confidential source?
- CBC News explored using synthetic media to obfuscate faces of crime victims that did not want to be identified in order as a way to potentially enhance storytelling.
- The CBC typically relied on methods such as face blurring and voice alteration in order to hide the identities of reporting subjects.
- The Framework provided CBC with a set of AI-specific guidance to support its journalistic standards. Ultimately, the CBC did not use synthetic media, noting existing challenges regarding user perception of synthetic media and privacy concerns for the subject.
This is CBC News’s case submission as a supporter of PAI’s Synthetic Media Framework. Explore the other case studies