Netflix’s recent true crime documentary, “What Jennifer Did,” allegedly incorporates AI-generated or manipulated images to portray Jennifer Pan, central to a 2010 murder-for-hire plot in Canada. The streaming giant employed these images to depict Pan’s described persona, characterized as “bubbly, happy, confident, and very genuine” by her high school acquaintance, Nam Nguyen.
At around the 28-minute mark, the documentary displays images with telltale signs of AI manipulation, including distorted facial features, misshapen hands and fingers, and peculiar background elements. While Netflix remains silent on these allegations, such use of generative AI to depict real individuals in a true-crime context raises eyebrows.
“What Jennifer Did” delves into the tragic murder of Pan’s parents, featuring authentic footage from crime scenes and police interrogations, meticulously directed by Jenny Popplewell. Despite initial treatment as a home invasion, inconsistencies in Pan’s narrative led to her becoming a suspect in her parents’ deaths.
Born in 1986 to Vietnamese refugees, Pan grew up under immense pressure to excel academically, leading to a double life fraught with deception. Her parents’ discovery of her lies culminated tragically, making the case one of Canada’s most infamous.
The ethical implications of utilizing AI-generated content in true crime documentaries extend beyond privacy concerns to encompass credibility and trustworthiness. Such practices may disrupt the delicate balance between fact and fiction, raising questions about the integrity of the storytelling process.
