An AI-generated rapper called Danny Bones with links to far-right Reform splinter party Advance UK repeatedly intervened in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Harriet Williamson and Simon Childs report.

Bones is an AI creation created by a shadowy agency linked to a far-right political party backed by the world’s richest man. An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has uncovered links between the operation behind the persona and Ben Habib’s party Advance UK. Experts believe this is the first time an AI character has been linked to a political party, and say Bones is a concerning sign of things to come.

  • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.ukEnglish
    24·
    4 days ago

    Did y’all listen to it? It’s so artless. The music sucks. The videos are so blatantly AI. The comments are all just bland performative engagement meat-riding BS. It’s totally engineered. It’s SLOPAGANDA!

    • Denys Nykula@piefed.socialEnglish
      4·
      4 days ago

      UK rappers such as Skepta and Stormzy accustomed me to technique, wordplay, sometimes uplifting and other times deadly serious but lively lyrics, and catchy beats. They move me, they inspire me to play with rhymes and samples. Right-wing “AI” prompting seems to take everything fun away from rap music and channel the art form straight into /dev/null. Their character is speaking of a downfall for UK culture when he’s the downfall.

      • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.ukEnglish
        81·
        4 days ago

        Part of fascism that people often overlook is reducing everything to an aesthetic, and something I notice about the Bones slopaganda is how it clothes itself in the working class and anti-establishment look and feel, while blatantly being a sleek corporate product with a pro-establishment agenda. It’s galling.

  • fubarx@lemmy.world
    13·
    2 days ago

    Since this is an AI-generated creation, hypothetically speaking, couldn’t someone take this character and generate more AI clips of him? Say speaking fluent Russian or Chinese, praying to Satan, or having sex with barn animals? Crying as he gets a vaccine shot. Maybe show his non-singing voice as a posh, high falsetto. Pretty much anything they want?

    And if someone did, wouldn’t they be in the clear, since AI can’t be copyrighted? I’m asking as someone interested in social aspects of this tech.

    • phutatorius@lemmy.zip
      1·
      2 days ago

      Say speaking fluent Russian or Chinese, praying to Satan, or having sex with barn animals?

      Getting makeup tips from VP Maybelline, while doing an over-the-top Little Richard imitation and singing “Ya done started out doin’ those things you used to do.”

      Maybe show his non-singing voice as a posh, high falsetto.

      I’m thinking more Kenneth Williams than Tiny Tim. Full-on Julian and Sandy Polari-slinging camp.

  • Denjin@feddit.uk
    91·
    4 days ago

    I hope Shane Meadows sues whoever made this for the misuse of “This Is England”, his film about how working class struggle and disaffection with modern society gets co-opted by the far right.

    • phutatorius@lemmy.zip
      11·
      2 days ago

      Excellent film, by the way. That, and Scum, give a good look at the joys of growing up in London in the late 70s/early 80s (though This Is England flashes back to the early 80s, whereas Scum was made in 1979).

    • Insekticus@aussie.zone
      21·
      4 days ago

      It’s not like the far-right actually have any good ideas. Of courses they’re going to take a documentary on the struggles of the average Brit and then point and blame non-billionaire minorities. That’s their only tactic; well besides creating chaos and violence, but that’s a given with the parasite class.

    • Canaconda@lemmy.ca
      6·
      4 days ago

      Nah this is just another John Fetterman admitting brain damage makes you conservative.

      Bones proves the best maga rap is still ai slop.

      edit: OIC this is UK. Same shit different head.

      • hammertime@lemmy.org
        2·
        4 days ago

        Fetterman was conservative before the brain damage, but I don’t disagree with the general statement.

  • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
    3·
    3 days ago

    Ben Habib’s party Advance UK

    The founder of the racist party was born in pakistan.

    He should start by deporting himself