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First time in human history, digital employment after death is increasing.
We are now entering an era, where people can “come back to life” using technology.
Examples such as an AI that enacts the deceased using their data on social media,
and techniques such as Deepfake, which can naturally paste a deceased one's face onto an actor are becoming a norm.
We see more and more discussions around the use of such technologies from an ethics standpoint,
since it can easily violate the personal rights of the deceased. *References
We are calling this phenomenon, the "D.E.A.D. (Digital Employment After Death)".
It is the first time in human history that we are encountering this issue,
and therefore, data protection and personality rights for the deceased are not yet established.
That is why we created this site to better understand the current public opinion around the matter,
evoke more discussions, and allow you to publicly announce your position towards this issue.
Would you allow yourself
to be "resurrected" after death,
using your personal data and technologies
such as AI and CGI?
Let us hear your opinion. Please vote.
Let us hear your opinion. Please vote.
※Current polling results
We conducted a survey to understand how people are really feeling about the D.E.A.D.
Survey Outline
Period: Jan. 30 ‒ Feb. 7, 2020 Country: Japan, U.S.
Samples: 1,030 Method: Online
The majority does not wish to
be “resurrected”
When asked whether or not you allow yourself to be “resurrected”, 63.2% responded NO. The majority seems to be against this idea.
Would you allow yourself to be "resurrected" after death,
using your personal data and technologies such as AI and CGI?
YES36.8%
NO63.2%
0%
When asked about someone else’s “resurrection”, 76.7% answered NO, showing even more resistance. One of the reasons could be because there is no way of knowing what the deceased would have prefered.
Do you wish to digitally "resurrect" anyone
who passed away (bring back to life as a virtual simulation),
using their data left online combined with AI and CGI?
YES23.3%
NO76.7%
0%
Younger generations are more tolerable
When asked about the use of posthumous data, 53.8% of the 50s and 36.6% of the 20s and below were against it. This shows that the younger generations tend to be more open to this idea. We suspect that this weaker resistance agains "resurrection" comes from the fact that the social-native generations are accustomed to having their photos and videos being shared publicly.
Would you allow others to use your personal data after your death?
NOYESDepending on how it's used
“Resurrection” by close people are more acceptable
Whether their personal data being "viewed/acquired" or "new content generated using it," we found that significantly fewer people accept usages by strangers, compared to people in close relationships, such as a family member or a trusted acquaintance. This is an indication that many prefer data usage by trusted parties. We have also noticed that the acceptance rate would slightly rise if it involves monetary compensation to their heir.
Which of the following use of personal data
would you accept after death?
Your personal data is viewed/acquired by one.
of your family members or someone you trust.
New content is generated by one of your
family memebers or someone you trust, using
your personal data.
Your personal data is viewed/acquired at will,
by someone not related to you.
New content is generated at will, by someone
no related to you, using your personal data.
Your personal data is viewed/acquired by
someone not related to you, with your heir's
consent and compensation under a contract.
New content is generated by someone not
related to you, with your heir's consent and
compensation under a contract.
Other(please specify)
None of the above
Rejection towards “fake”
If you do allow someone to resurrect you, people showed more resistance as its resemblance became closer to yourself (text < voice < vision). Also, people strongly resisted the idea of fabricating its actions (generating what the deceased did NOT say nor do) twice as much as when we stick to the facts, showing strong rejection against fake contents.
If someone attempts to generate new content based on your personal data,
what type of content would you accept?
A bot(auto-posting program) keeps posting to
a social network what you DID say before
your death.
A bot(auto-posting program) keeps posting to
a social network what you did NOT say before
your death.
An AI program that automatically takes what
you DID say before your death and makes
conversation using your synthesized voice.
An AI program that automatically generates
phrases that you did NOT say before your
death using your synthesized voice. Only that
it still adheres to your personality.
An AI program that automatically synthesizes
both your voice and appearance and visually
"acts" trying to fabricate what you DID say
before your death.
An AI program that automatically synthesizes
both your voice and appearance and visually
"acts" trying to fabricate what you did NOT
say before your death.
Other(please specify)
None of the above
Express your thoughts and let’s discuss
When we asked about the reason to not resurrect the deceased, "Because there's no way to get explicit consent from the dead" came top among the Japanese respondents, while in the U.S. people felt "it is ethically wrong." We can easily suspect that different opinions can be formed depending on the cultural backgrounds. Therefore, we believe that expressing your POV to the people around you, and participating in this discussion is very important.
Reasons to oppose "resurrection": Japan vs. U.S.
[ Japan ]
[ U.S. ]
Here, you can declare if you wish (or not) to be "resurrected" and become D.E.A.D.
Please fill in the form below and share your opinion,
and/or download it as a document to keep.
You can declare if you allow or do not allow yourself to be “resurrected” using your personal data and technologies like AI and CGI after death.
Expressing your choices while you are alive, and sharing it with your family members and people around you, may help prevent the undesirable use of your likeness after death.
I allow myself to be “resurrected” using personal data and technologies like AI and CGI after my death under the following conditions:
I will accept my “resurrection” by:
My family member
Someone who I know
Someone I designated
Anyone
My “ressurected” self may:
Act solely to replay the facts (What I said and did, and how I looked).
Act freely if based on the facts.
Act freely without any facts.
I will permit myself to be “resurrected” to the following extent:
A bot (auto-posting program) keeps posting to a social network.
An AI program that makes conversation using my synthesized voice.
An AI program that visually reanimates me using my voice and appearance.
I allow myself to be “resurrected”:
For a fee
I do not seek for compensation
I will NOT allow myself to be “resurrected” after death.
As of today (March 2020), this document is not legally binding. However, we are hoping that this site will help raise awareness around this issue, paving the way for the legal system that properly handles posthumous portrait rights.
Share :
* D.E.A.D DECLARATION can be downloaded as a PDF file. Please download or print it out for your record.
References
This PSA About Fake News From Barack Obama Is Not What It Appears (2018)
Tupac Hologram Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre Perform Coachella Live 2012 (2012)NHK raises the dead for 'Kohaku' to mixed reviews (2019) 64 years after James Dean's death, the actor will star in a new movie. Some in Hollywood are horrified but the advances in visual effects could make it commonplace. (2019)Deepfake Salvador Dalí takes selfies with museum visitors (2019)The story of Replika, the AI app that becomes you (2017)Eternime Close to Launching AI Avatars that Could Preserve Your Memories Forever (2015)NHK "Fukkatsu no hi (Day of Reunion)" (2019)Mother 'reunited' with dead daughter on South Korean VR show (2020)Robin Williams Restricted Exploitation of His Image for 25 Years After Death (2015)
Join the discussion #deadornot