Netflix embroiled in alleged AI scandal with What Jennifer Did

Netflix accused of using AI-manipulated footage in new true-crime documentary What Jennifer did.

The film tells the story of 24-year-old Jennifer Pan, who was convicted of assaulting both of her parents, killing her mother and injuring her father. The events took place in Canada in 2010. Pan is currently serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

In an interview included in the documentary, Pan’s high school friend Nam Nguyen describes her as “bubbly, happy, confident and very authentic.” Nguyen’s words are accompanied by a series of photos showing Pan posing as she holds her hands in a peace sign position and sticks her tongue out at the camera.

However, upon closer examination of the images, we see that Pan's left hand has only two fingers, namely the missing thumb, ring finger and little finger. On the other hand, he seems to be missing another little finger.

Technical site Futurism was the first to report his observations. Often, human hands can be the first sign of image manipulation because they are difficult to generate or modify.

The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment.

Although it is unclear whether any editing was done, the manipulation of an image in a true-crime documentary would be considered controversial given that the film is based on real events and must be told honestly without embellishment .

Pan, now 37, was convicted of hiring hitmen to murder her parents.

On November 8, 2010, a 911 call was made from a home in a residential area of ​​Ontario, Canada. Pan told police over the phone that she was at home with her parents and that armed men had broken into their home and demanded money. Pan said the intruders tied her up, shot both of her parents, and fled. Her mother died shortly thereafter, and her father was seriously injured and taken to hospital, where he was put into a medically induced coma.

The Pan family home was initially thought to have been randomly targeted, but as more details emerged, detectives became suspicious of Pan when a neighbor's security camera captured three men entering the house. house without any signs of forced entry.

Pan was the only witness to the events until her father came out of his coma and told police that his daughter appeared to know the people who had broken into their home.

Pan confessed to hiring the killers and leaving her house unlocked – although she claimed she had made sure she was their target, not her parents.

The Netflix series reveals that detectives learned that this was Pan's second attempt at arranging a contract killing, and ten months before, she had asked another acquaintance to kill her parents.

Her father, Huei Hann Pan, testified for the prosecution at his daughter's murder trial in 2014. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years and continues to maintain her innocence, according to the documentary.

The three hitmen were also sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

What Jennifer did is now streaming on Netflix.