. >>> THAT'S WHEN THE MAGIC HAPPENS. >> THIS IS A DEEP FAKE, HYPER
REALISTIC VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS THAT USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE FAKE CONTENT.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF DEEP FAKES. >> IT POSES A MAJOR THREAT TO
THE UNITED STATES. >> WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW THEY WORKED SO WE ASKED ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS TO
TRAIN THE TECHNOLOGY ON US. >> THIS IS HOW I LOOKED 30 YEARS AGO. >>> IF HE'S NOT PUBLIC ENEMY
NUMBER ONE IN CHINA, HE'S UP THERE. TONIGHT WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A PART POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND PART
CON CARTOONIST, INFURIATING THE CCP, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. >> I'M NOT CONTROLLED BY ANY
AUTHORITY, CRIMINAL NOT CCP. THAT SCARES THEM. ALL THEY WANT IS TOTAL CONTROL. >> IMAGINE LAUNCHING YOURSELF
HUNDREDS OF FEET DEEP INTO THE SEA WITH LITTLE MORE THAN A MASK, A HEAVY DOSE OF BRAVERY AND ONE DEEP BREATH.
WELCOME TO THE BLUE HOLE. THIS IS THE KING OF THE DEEP KNOWN FOR FREE DIVING AS HE HOLDS A SINGLE BREATH FOR NEARLY
FIVE MINUTES. >> TOUCHDOWN. >> COMING UP! >> I'M LESLIE STAHL.
>> I'M BILL WHITAKER. I'M ANDERSON COOPER. >> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. >> T
>>> YOU MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD THE TERM SYNTHETIC MEDIA, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS DEEP FAKES. BUT OUR MILITARY, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CERTAINLY HAVE. THEY ARE HYPER REALISTIC VIDEO AND ADOY RECORDINGS THAT USE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DEEP LEARNING TO CREATE FAKE CONTENT OR DEEPFAKES. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN
INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR POTENTIAL TO BE USED TO SPREAD DISINFORMATION AND COMMIT CRIMES.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE CREATORS OF DEEPFAKES HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE PEOPLE SAY OR DO ANYTHING -- AT LEAST ON OUR SCREENS.
AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN OCTOBER, MOST AMERICANS HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAR THE TECHNOLOGY HAS COME IN JUST THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR THE
DANGER, DISCORRUPTION AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH IT. >>> YOU KNOW, I DO ALL MY OWN STUNTS OBVIOUSLY.
I ALSO DO MY OWN MUSIC. >> THIS IS NOT TOM CRUISE. IT'S ONE OF A SERIES OF HYPER-REALISTIC DEEP FAKES OF
THE MOVIE STAR THAT BEGAN APPEARING ON THE VIDEO SHARING APP TIKTOK IN FEBRUARY 2021. FOUR DAYS PEOPLE WONDERED IF
THEY WERE REAL, AND IF NOT, WHO CREATED THEM. FINALLY A MODEST 32-YEAR-OLD BELGIAN VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST
NAMED CHRIS UME STEPPED FORWARD TO CLAIM CREDIT. >> WE BELIEVED AS LONG AS WE MAKING CLEAR THIS IS A PARODY,
WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HARM HIS IMAGE. BUT AFTER A FEW DESCRIBEDOS, REREALIZED THIS IS BLOWING UP,
WE'RE GETTING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF VIEWS. >> UME SAYS HIS WORK IS MADE EASIER BECAUSE HE TEAMED UP WITH
A TOM CRUISE IMPERSONATOR WHOSE VOICE, GESTURES AND HAIR ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE REAL McCOY.
UME ONLY DEEPFAKES CRUISE'S FACE AND STITCHES THAT ON TO THE REAL VIDEO AND SOUND OF THE EMPIRS NATEOR.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS. >> STILL GOT IT. >> HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS SO
SEAMLESS? >> IT BEGINS WITH TRAINING A DEEPFAKE MODEL OF COURSE. I HAVE ALL THE FACE ANGLES OF
TOM CRUISE AND ALL THE EXPRESSIONS AND EMOTIONS. IT TAKES TIME TO CREATE A REAL GOOD DEEPFAKE MODEL.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN TRAINING THE MODEL? HOW DO YOU TRAIN YOUR COMPUTER? >> TRAINING MEANS IT'S GOING TO
ANALYZE ALL OF THE IMAGES OF TOM CRUISE, ALL HIS EXPRESSIONS COMPARED TO MY IMPERSONATOR. SO THE COMPUTE EARS GOING TO
TEACH ITSELF. WHEN MY IMPERSONATOR IS SMILING, I'M GOING TO CREATE TOM CRUISE NILE SMOOILING AND THAT'S HOW
YOU TRAIN IT. >> USING VIDEO FROM THE CBS NEWS ARCHIVES, CHRIS UME WAS ABLE TO TRAIN HIS COMPUTER TO LEARN
EVERY ASPECT OF MY FACE AND WIPE AWAY THE DECADES. THIS IS HOW I LOOKED 30 YEARS AGO.
HE CAN EVEN REMOVE MY MUSTACHE. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS AND A LITTLE FRIGHTENING. >> I SEE A LOT OF MISTAKE IN MY
WOK BUT I DON'T MIND ACTUALLY. I WANT TO SHOW THEM WHAT'S POSSIBLE. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO FOOL
PEOPLE? >> NO, I WANT TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLIN I WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND I WANT TO SHOW
WHERE IT'S ALL GOING. >> I WOULD SAY IT'S ANDALOGOUS TO THE BIRTH OF THE INTERNET. >> NINASCHCK IS A POLITICAL
SCIENTIST AND TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT WHO WROTE ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS ON DEEPFAKES. SHE FIRST CAME ACROSS THEM FIVE
YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS ADVISING EUROPEAN POLITICIANS ON RUSSIA A'S USE OF DISINFORMATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO INTERFERE IN
DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FIRST REALIZED THIS WAS POSSIBLE AND WAS GOING ON?
>> WELL, GIVEN THAT I WAS COMING ON FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DISINFORMATION AND MANIPULATION IN THE CONTEST OF ELECTIONS.
I THOUGHT FROM A DISINFORMATION PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS A GAME CHANGER. >> SO FAR THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THAT DEEPFAKES HAVE CHANGED THE GAME IN A U.S. ELECTION, BUT IN MARCH 2021, THE FBI PUT OUT A NOTIFICATION WARNING THAT
RUSSIAN AND CHINESE ACTORS ARE USING SYNTHETIC PROFILE IMAGES, CREATING DEEPFAKE JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PERSONALITIES TO
SPREAD ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE U.S. MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES HAVE KEPT A WARY EYE ON DEEPFAKES FOR YEARS. AT THIS 2019 HEARING, SENATOR BEN SASSE OF NEBRASKA ASKED IF
THE U.S. IS PREPARED FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF DISINFORMATION FAKERY AND FRAUD. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
CATASTROPHIC POTENTIAL TO PUBLIC TRUST AND TO MARKETS THAT COULD COME FROM DEEPFAKE ATTACKS, ARE WE ORGANIZED IN A WAY THAT WE
COULD POSSIBLY RESPOND FAST ENOUGH? >> WE CLEARLY NEED TO BE MORE AGILE.
IT POSES A MAJOR THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES AND SOMETHING THAT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED TO ADDRESS.
>>> SINCE THEN TECHNOLOGY HAS CONTINUED MOVING AT AN EXPONENTIAL PACE WHILE U.S. POLICY HAS NOT.
EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND BIG TECH TO DETECT SYNTHETIC MEDIA ARE COMPETING WITH A COMMUNITY OF DEEPFAKE ARTISTS
WHO SHARE THEIR LATEST CREATIONS AND TECHNIQUES ONLINE. LIKE THE INTERNET, THE FIRST PLACE DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY TOOK
OFF WAS IN PORNOGRAPHY. THE SAD FACT IS THE MAJORITY OF DEEP FAKES TODAY CONSIST OF WOMEN'S FACE, MOSTLY
CELEBRITIES, SUPERIMPOSED ON TO PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOS. >> THE FIRST USE CASE IN PORNOGRAPHY IS JUST A HARBINGER
OF HOW DEEP FAKES CAN BE USED MALICIOUSLY IN MANY DIFFERENT CONTESTS, WHICH ARE NOW STARTING TO ARISE.
>> AND THEY'RE GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME IN. >> YES. THE INCREDIBLE THING ABOUT
DEEPFAKES AND SYNTHETIC MEDIA IS THE PACE OF ACCELERATION WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY. BY FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS, WE ARE
BASICALLY LOOKING A THE A TRAJECTORY WHERE ANY SINGLE CREATOR, A YOUBER, A TIKTOKER WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE THE SAME
LEVEL OF VISUAL EFFECTS THAT IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE MOST WELL-RESOURCED HOLLYWOOD STUDIO TODAY.
>> THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND DEEPFAKES IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH MIMICS THE WAY HUMAN LEARN.
IN 2014 RESEARCHERS FOR THE FIRST TIME USED COMPUTERS TO CREATE REALISTIC LOOKING FACES USING SOMETHING CALLED GENERATIV
ADVERSARIAL NETWORKS OR GANS. >> SO YOU SET UP AN ADVERSARIAL GAME WHERE YOU HAVE TWO AIs COMBATTING EACH OTHER AND TRY TO
CREATE THE BEST FAKE SYNTHETIC CONTENT AND YOU BASICALLY END UP WITH OUTPUT THAT IS INCREASINGLY IMPROVING ALL THE TIME.
>> SIK SAYS THE POWER OF GENERATIVE ADVERSARIAL NETWORKS IS ON FULL DAYS PLAY AT A WEB SITE CALLED "THIS PERSON DOES
NOT EXIST.COM". >> EVERY TIME YOU REFRESH THE PAGE, THERE'S NEW IMAGE OF A PERSON WHO DOES NOT EXIST.
>> EACH IS A ONE OF A KIND, ENTIRELY A.I. GENERATED IMAGE OF A HUMAN BEING WHO NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL WALK THIS EARTH.
>> YOU CAN SEE EVERY PORE ON THEIR FACE. YOU CAN SEE EVERY HAIR ON THEIR HEAD.
AND NOW IMAGINE THAT TECHNOLOGY BEING EXPANDED OUT NOT ONLY TO HUMAN FACES IN STILL IMAGES BUT ALSO TO VIDEO, AND SYNTHESIS OF
PEOPLE'S VOICES AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE'RE HEADING RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS MIND BLOWING.
>> YES. >> WHAT'S THE POSITIVE OF THIS? >> THERE'S A VERY COMPELLING CASE TO BE MADE FOR THE
COMMERCIAL USE OF DEEP FAKES. >> VICTOR RIPARBELLIS IS CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF SYNTHESIA, BASED IN LONDON, ONE OF DOZENS OF
COMPANIES USING DEEPFAKE TECHNICAL J I TO TRANSFORM VIDEO AND AUTO PRODUCTIONS. >> THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT
WE'VE ESSENTIALLY REPLACED CAMERAS AND CODE, AND ONCE YOU'RE WORKING WITH SOFTWARE, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS YOU WOULDN'T
BE ABLE TO DO IN A NORMAL CAMERA. >>> THE VIDEO WAS OF COURSE GENERATED BY SYNTHESIA.
>> IT MAKES AND SELLS DIGITAL AVATARS USING THE FACES OF PAID ACTORS TO DELIVER PERSONALIZED MESSAGES IN 64 LANGUAGES AND
ALLOWS CORPORATE CEOs TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEES OVERSEAS. >> DID SOMEBODY SAY JUST EAT? >> JUST EAT HAS A SUBSIDIARY IN
AUSTRALIA WHICH IS CALLED MENULOG. SO WHAT WE DID WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY WAS WE SWITCHED OUT
THE WORD JUST EAT FOR MENULOG. >> DID SOMEBODY SAY MENULOG? >> ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAD A LOCALIZED VERSION FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN MARKET WITHOUT SNOOP DOG HAVING TO DO ANYTHING. >> SO HE MAKES TWICE THE MONEY, HUH?
>> YEAH. >> ALL IT TOOK WAS EIGHT MINUTES OF ME READING A SCRIPT ON CAMERA TO CREATE MY SYNTHETIC TALKING
HEAD, COMPLETE WITH MY GESTURES, HEAD AND MOUTH MOVEMENTS, ANOTHER COMPANY USED A.I. TO CREATE A SYNTHETIC VERSION OF MY
VOICE. >> WITH MY CADENCE, TENOR AND SIN CO PAGS. >> THIS IS THE RESULT.
THE WORDS YOU'RE HEARING WERE NEVER SPOKEN BY THE REAL BILL INTO A MICROPHONE OR CAMERA. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER.
I'M BILL WHITAKER, I'M BILL WHITAKER. >> WOW. AND THE HEAD, THE EYEBROWS, THE
MOUTH, THE WAY IT MOVES. >> IT'S ALL SYNTHETIC. >> I COULD BE LOUNGING AT THE BEACH AND SAY, FOLKS, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT GOING TO COME IN TODAY. BUT YOU CAN USE MY OF A AT THAT ARE TO DO THE WORK. >> MAYBE IN A FEW YEARS.
>> DON'T TELL ME THAT. I'D BE TEMPTED. >> I THINK IT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT.
>>> THE RAPID ADVANCES IN SYNTHETIC MEDIA HAVE CAUSED A VIRTUAL GOLD RUSH. THE GOAL, DEVELOP SOFTWARE TO
ALLOW ANYONE TO CREATE HOLLYWOOD CALIBER MOVIES WITHOUT LIGHTS, CAMERAS OR EVEN ACTORS. >> AS THE HARDWARE SCALES AND AS
THE MODELS BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, WE CAN SCALE UP THE SIZE OF THAT MODEL TO BE AN ENTIRE TOM CRUISE BODY MOVEMENT
AND EVERYTHING. >> TALK ABOUT DISRUPTIVE, I MEAN, ARE YOU GOING TO PUT ACTORS OUT OF JOBS?
>> I THINK IT IS A GREAT THING IF YOU'RE A WELL-KNOWN AGTOR TODAY BECAUSE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LET SOMEBODY COLLECT DATA FOR
YOU TO CREATE A VERSION OF YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE WHERE YOU COULD BE ACTING IN MOVIES AFTER YOU HAVE DESIZED.
>> IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW ALL OF THIS IS LEGAL, MOST DEEPFAKES ARE CONSIDERED PROTECTED FREE SPEECH.
ATTEMPTS AT LEGISLATION ARE ALL OVER THE MAP. IN NEW YORK, COMMERCIAL USE OF A PERFORMER'S SYNTHETIC LIKENESS
WITHOUT CONSENT IS BANNED FOR 40 YEARS AFTER THEIR DEATH. >> THERE ARE SO MANY ETHICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL GRAY ZONES HERE
THAT WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT. >> HOW DO WE AS A SOCIETY GRAPPLE WITH THIS?
>> JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON. BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT A DEEP FAKE IS,
WHAT SYNTHETIC MEDIA IS, THAT THIS IS NOW POSSIBLE. THE COUNTER TO THAT IS HOW DO WE INOCULATE OURSELVES AND
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS KIND OF CONTENT IS COMING AND EXISTS WITHOUT BEING COMPLETELY CYNICAL.
HOW DO WE DO IT WITHOUT LOSING TRUST IN ALL AUTHENTIC MEDIA? >> THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ALL OF US TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MANEUVER IN A WORLD WHERE SEEING IS NOT ALWAYS BELIEVING.
>> Announcer: WHEN ANY VIDEO CAN BE FAKED, HOW DO YOU PROVE WHEN ONE IS REAL? >> IF ANYTHING CAN BE FAKED,
THAN ANYTHING CAN BE DENIED. >> A
>>> JIM >>> THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING WERE GAMES WREATHED IN CONTROVERSY.
TO MANY CHINA WAS A PROBLEMATIC HOST. ONE OF THE LOUDEST VOICES CONDEMNING CHINA IS NOT A VOICE
AT ALL BUT RATHER A HAND. SINCE SELF-EXILING IN CHINA IN 2009, THE ARTIST KNOWN AS BADUUCAO HAS USED HIS WORK TO
TAKE ON THE COUNTRY'S LEADER XI JINPING. AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN DECEMBER, IT'S COME AS A STEEP
PRICE, HE MAY NEVER GO HOME AGAIN. BUT ON HE GOES TRAVELING THE WORLD USING PAINT AND WIT ON
WALLS TO CALL TRUTH TO POWER HAD YOU BEEN IN MIAMI BEACH LAST FALL, YOU'D BEEN FOR GIVEN IF YOU THOUGHT YOU ENCOUNTERED
PROMOTIONAL BOARDS FOR THE BEIJING WINTER LOLYMPICS. BUT IT WAS A PROVOCATIVE VISUAL ARGUMENT FOR WHY CHINA WAS UNFIT
TO HOST THE GAMES. HE WAS A CHINESE HOCKEY PLAYER BLOODYING A TIBETAN MONK. THIS IS THE HANDY WORK OF
BADIUCAO. >> THAT'S HOW CHINA IS GOING TO USE IT NOT AS A CELEBRATION FOR HUMANITY BUT USE IT AS A
PLATFORM TO PROMOTING ITS PROPAGANDA, WHICH IS FUNDAMENTALLY CRACKING DOWN ON PEOPLE'S BASIC RIGHTS.
>> HE CAME TO ACCEPT THE AWARD FOR CREATIVE DISSENT. >> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR ART?
>> I IMAGINE I'M THIS KID HOLDING A BIG ROCK AND YOU THROW THE ROCK INTO THE LAKE AND UP SEE ALL THE SPLASH AND YOU SEE
THE CHANGE. >> Reporter: YOU SEE THE ROCK IN THE LAKE, SEE THE SPLASH, SEE WHERE THE RIPPLES RIPPLE?
>> EXACTLY. >> Reporter: CHINA DOES NOT ALLOW RIPPLES. EVEN OUTSIDE CHINA, DISSENT DOES
NOT GO OVER WELL. DO YOU FEEL IN DANGER? DO YOU FEEL UNSAFE? >> WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY MY
DAILY ROUTINE, THAT I WILL RECEIVE DEATH THREAT ON DAILY BASIS ONLINE, ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM,
DIRECT MESSAGE. >> Reporter: HE KNOWS AS AN ARTIST POKING THE CHINESE REGIME, HE RISKS RETALIATION,
BOTH AGAINST HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY BACK IN CHINA. FOR YEARS HE HID BEHIND A MASK IN PUBLIC, WORKING INCOGNITO,
GUERRILLA STYLE, BOTH IN AUSTRALIA AND ANY TIME HE TRAVELED. HE ADOPTED A SUED A PSEUDONYM, S
NOT REAL MEANING. >> Reporter: HE INITIALLY WENT UNDERGROUND. IN HIS RECENT CARTOON, HE
CONFRONTS THE REALITY OF ACCUSING A FORMER VICE PREMIER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. >> I WANT TO BE AN INSPIRING
FIGURE. I WANT MY ART TO HELPING OTHERS TO COLLECTING COURAGE AND JOIN ME.
BUT IF I GIVING UP THIS, THEN WHAT DOES IT SAY TO THE REST OF THEM? >> WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN YOUR POPULARITY AND YOUR SECURITY? >> I DO THINK IT HAS A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
>> Reporter: SO ALMOST THE MORE POPULAR YOU GET, YOU'RE BUYING YOURSELF AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY?
>> YEAH. AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN DO IT. >> Reporter: MAYBE SO BUT BEING
POPULAR ALSO MEANS HIS WORK HAS BEEN SCRUBBED BY SENSORS INSIDE CHINA. WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT
DRIVES THIS REGIME CRAZY? >> I GUESS IT'S THIS ATTITUDE THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE, HOW DANGEROUS
YOU ARE. I'M JUST GOING TO BE MYSELF. I AM AN INDIVIDUAL. I'M NOT CONTROLLED BY ANY
AUTHORITY. CERTAINLY NOT CCP. THAT SCARES THEY BECAUSE ALL THEY WANT IS TOTAL CONTROL.
>> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT BUTTONS TO PUSH, WHAT LEVERS TO PULL ON THAT'S GOING TO TWEAK THEM.
>> I GUESS IT'S NOT ME FINDING THE BUTTON, IT'S THEM OFFERING THE BUTTON TO ME. >> Reporter: ONE EXAMPLE AMONG
MANY, AN INTERNET PEOPLE SURFACED COMPARING XI JINPING AND BARACK OBAMA TO WINNIE THE PAO AND TIGGER.
NO BIG DEAL, RIGHT? CHINA CENSORED ANY IMAGE LINKING XI TO POOH. >> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT WINNIE THE
POOH? WHY IS THAT SO EFFECTIVE? >> BECAUSE WINNIE THE POOH IS SO LOVED BY THE PUBLIC AND SO
RECOGNIZED. WHEN IT'S COMBINED WITH XI JINPING'S QUESTION, PEOPLE ASK WHY DO YOU WANT TO GET RID OF
THAT BEAR? >> YOU RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF A BENIGN YELLOW BEAR. >> EXACTLY.
IF YOU ARE IN A DEMOCRAT SOCIETY, I THINK POLITICIAN WILL BE THRILLED IF THEY CAN COMPARE WITH WINNIE THE PAOPOOH INSTEAD
AN EVIL CHARACTER BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHINA. >> THE MARGIN WAS 2970 VOTES TO 0.
AND HE CREATED THIS IMAGE ON THAT HE CALLED XI FOREVER. ARMED P BADIUCAO WENT TO WORK IN MANHATTAN AND COMPARED XI TO A
MAGICIAN CONJURING MAO'S SPIRIT. >> HE HAS TRIED TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AS ANOTHER RED SON OF CHINA.
HE WANTS TO BE CELEBRATED AS THIS GOD-LIKE FIGURE LIKE MAO ENJOYED IN HIS TIME. >> Reporter: IT WAS BY ACCIDENT
THAT HE BECAME A LEADING CRITIC OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. IN 2007 HE WAS A LAW STUDENT IN HIS HOMETOWN OF SHANGHAI
WATCHING A FILM ONLINE WHEN A MOVIE ABRUPTLY SWITCHED TO FOOTAGE SOMEONE SECRETLY EMBEDDED DETECTING THE TIANANMEN
SQUARE PROTEST. >> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I KNOW IT EXISTS. >> Reporter: SO YOU'RE IN
COLLEGE, IN YOUR TO 20s AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE HEARING IT WHEN IT RANDOMLY IS IN A DOCUMENTARY YOU SEE?
>> YES. THANKS TO SOME CLEVER DISI DENT WHO -- DISSIDENT WHO MADE THIS
HAPPEN. >> Reporter: YOUR PARENTS HADN'T TOLD BUT THIS? >> NEVER.
>> Reporter: TEACHERS? >> NEVER. >> Reporter: DISCOVERING THE TRUTH MADE HIM WANT TO LEAVE
CHINA. IT WASN'T JUST WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS HOW EASILY THE HISTORY
WAS ERASED. IN 2009 HE RESETTLED TO AUSTRALIA, GAVE UP LAW AND STARTED DRAWING, DESPITE NO
FORMAL TRAINING. HE EVENTUALLY BRANCHED OUT, TRAVELING AND PERFORMING STREET ART TO HIGHLIGHT CHINA'S
OPPRESSION. IN THESE SCENES, STILL MASKED, POSED IN FRONT OF BERLIN'S BRANDENBURG GATE, HONORING ONE
OF THE MOST TABOO SUBJECTS IN CHINA, THE NAMELESS PRO TESTER WHO STOOD IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE MILITARY IN 19 89.
>> TANKMAN IS -- >> WHAT DOES TANK MAN REPRESENT? >> IT SHOWS ANY OTHER PEOPLE OR PERSON COULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO
IN FRONT OF THE MOST POWERFUL OBJECT. >> I KNOW THE IMAGE OF TANK MAN IS ALWAYS NEAR YOU.
>> BEFORE THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF TIANANMEN MASSACRE, I JUST WANT SOMETHING ON MY RIGHT ARM, TO REMIND THIS ORDINARY GUY
COLLECT ALL THE COURAGE IN THE WORLD AND PUSH HIMSELF IN FRONT OF TANK. HE'S FEARLESS.
>> HE CONNECTED WITH STUDENTS WHO MARCHED FOR DEMOCRACY IN TIANANMEN SQUARE. THEY'RE NOW MIDDLE AGED, EXILED.
AND THIS MAN LOST HIS LEGS TO A TANK DURING THE MASSACRE. JOE WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO ENTER THE SQUARE AND ONE OF THE LAST
TO LEAVE. THE FORMER STUDENTS SEE BADIUCAO AS CARRYING THE TORCH. >> THERE'S HOPE ON HIM.
HE'S SO CREATIVE. >> YOU FEEL HE'S CARRYING A TORCH FOR WHAT YOUR GENERATION STARTED?
HAD. >> DEFINITELY. >> Reporter: AS A PROTEST LEADER, HE BECAME THE FIFTH MOST
WANTED MAN IN CHINA. HE SPENT A YEAR IN JAIL AND FLED TO THE U.S. IN THE MID 90s. HE SAYS CHINA DOESN'T KNOW HOW
TO HANDLE BADIUCAO. >> IT'S SO PERVASIVE. IT CAN COME TRUE, ANYTHING IN U.S. COMPANIES BUT STILL WE
CANNOT CHANGE BADIUCAO, THIS ONE SINGLE PERSON WHO CAN ALWAYS COME OUT WITH ARTS CHALLENGING THE AUTHORITY.
>> Reporter: YOU THINK THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY CAN PRESSURE COMPANIES AND OTHER NATIONS BUT THEY CAN'T PRESSURE
THIS GUY? >> THAT'S THE SPIRIT, THE PERSON VERSUS THE ENTIRE NATION. HE'S DEFINITELY A THORN IN THEIR
EYE. >> Reporter: HE MAY BE A LONE DISSIDENT TAKING ON THE WORLD'S LARGEST GOVERNMENT, BUT HE IS
CONVINCED HIS IS NO EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. YOU SAID YOU ADMIRE THE MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE SISYPHUS.
>> RIGHT. >> WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> HIS MISSION SEEMS DOOMED THAT HE WILL NEVER PUSH TO THE TOP OF
THE MOUNTAIN. IT'S A BIT LIKE ME WHEN I'M CREATING ARTWORKS TO CHALLENGE THE REGIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE CHANGED OR IF MY WORK WILL CHANGE IT AT ALL. BUT EVEN IF THAT IS A REALITY,
DOES IT MEAN MY WORK HAS NO MEANING? I DON'T THINK SO. >> IN SEPTEMBER, HE BROUGHT OUT
HIS PAINT BRUSH TO CONVEY HIS OUTRAGE FOR CHINA'S CRACKDOWN ON HONG KONG, FASHIONING HONG KONG'S LEADER AS A PUPPET OF XI
JINPING, HE MELDED THEIR FACES. LAST NOVEMBER THAT COMBINED IMAGE GREETED VISITORS AS BADIUCAO HELD HIS FIRST SOLO
EXHIBITION. AT THE LAST MINUTE CHINA TRIED TO FLEX ITS MUSCLE. >> THEY STARTED WRITING LETTERS.
IT'S LIKE A BLACKMAILING. IF YOU DO THE SHOW, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE OUR COLLABORATION WILL BE PROBLEMATIC.
>> Reporter: SPECIFICALLY THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN ROME DEMANDED THE SHOW BE CANCELLED BECAUSE THE EXHIBITION WAS FULL OF
ANTI-CHINESE LIES, AND WOULD SERIOUSLY WOUND THE FEELINGS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE, IMPOSE A THREAT TO FRIENDLY RELATIONS
BETWEEN CHINA AND ITALY. THE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES HELD FIRM AND THE SHOW WENT ON. THERE WAS A NOD TO WHAT
BADIUCAO'S TO XI SLOW RESPONSE TO COVID. >> I THIS INK THIS IS A REALITY THAT CHINESE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE
A SENSE OF SAFETY THAT THEY CAN SPEAK FREELY, BUT I AM IN THIS VERY PRIVILEGED POSITION THAT I'M NOT IN CHINA, SO I HAVE
EVERY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE MY VOICE TO BE HEARD TO BECOME THEIR VOICES.
>>> IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF FREE DIVING, IMAGINE THIS -- LAUNCHING YOURSELF HUNDREDS OF FEET INTO THE SEA WITH LITTLE
MORE THAN A MASK, A HEAVY DOSE OF BRAVERY AND ONE DEEP BREATH. SPEAR FISHER MEAN AND PEARL DIVERS HAVE BEEN FREE DIVING FOR
YEARS. A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE NOW DOING IT FOR SPORT WITH ATHLETES TESTING THEIR LIMITS
AND GOOD SENSE BY DIVING AS DEEPLY AS THEY CAN WITHOUT SCUBA GEAR. OUR BOB SIMON GAVE US A GLIMPSE
NINE YEARS AGO. LAST SEPTEMBER WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF 43-YEAR-OLD RUSSIAN DIVER ALEXEY MOLCHANOV.
HE'S KNOWN AS "THE MACHINE", THE UNDISPUTED KEEP OF THE DEEP. >> OFF THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND AND BAHAMAS, YOU'LL SEE THE BLUE
HOLE. OVERHEAD IT LOOKS LIKE AN INK WELL. IT IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR
DOZENS OF THE WORLD'S ELITE FREE DIVERS TO TRY TO REWRITE THE SPORT'S HISTORY. THIS IS THE ANNUAL VERTICAL BLUE
COMPETITION. WE WENT THERE TO MEET ALEXEY MOLCHANOV, TO WATCH HIM GLIDE THROUGH THE WATERS TO GLIMPSE
SOMETHING OTHER WORLDLY. HE LOOKS PART GOLDEN POE SIDEN, AND HE CAN DIVE 39 STORIES DEEP WHILE HOLDING A SINGLE BREATH
FOR NEARLY FIVE MINUTES. >> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO DIVE THAT DEEP AND TO HOLD YOUR BREATH THAT LONG.
>> WHY? FOR ME IT DOES. >> Reporter: IT DOES? >> YES.
I ENJOY FINDING NEW BOUNDARIES AND PUSHING THE PERIMETER BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN. I KNOW FROM ALL THESE YEARS AND
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING AND DIVING, HOW WELL I CAN USE MY OXYGEN AND HOW EFFICIENT I CAN USE IT.
>> Reporter: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? >> IT FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE FLYING, THE PURE JOY OF FLYING.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE ENJOYING IT? >> YES. WITHOUT JOY IT DOESN'T WORK. >> Reporter: WE WERE GIVEN THE
SPORTS EQUIVALENT OF A SIDELINE PASS. OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS CIRCLED BENEATH THE SURFACE AS FREE
DIVERS TESTED THEMSELVES IN FOUR DISCIPLINES, WITH OR WITHOUT FINS, WITH OR WITHOUT THE USE OF A ROPE TO PULL THEM DOWN.
GOING INTO LAST YEAR'S COMPETITION, MOLCHANOV HELD THE WORLD RECORD IF THREE OF THE FOUR DISCIPLINES AND WANTED TO
BREAK THEM ALL. WE WATCHED AS HE PREPARED FOR HIS MOST AMBITIOUS DIVE ATTEMPT, 430 FEET, MORE THAN THE LENGTH
OF A FOOTBALL FIELD. >> THREE, TWO, ONE. >> >> Reporter: WITH THE JUDGES
LOOKING ON, HE TAKES HIS FINAL BREATH. HE'S PACKING HIS LUNGS WITH AIR. THEN SLIPS BENEATH THE SURFACE,
HIS WHALE-LIKE FIN GIVING HIM BUOYANCY. >> WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT. >> AT AROUND 65 FEET HE DROPS
HIS ARMS TO HIS SIDE AND ENTERS FREEFALL. HIS LUNGS ARE NOW A THIRD OF THEIR SURFACE SIZE AND HE STARTS
TO SINK. HE'S CLIPPED TO A DIVE LINE THAT CAN YANK HIM BACK TO SAFETY. ONCE HE REACHES HIS DESIGNATED
DEPTH, HE GRABS A TAG TO PROVE HE'S GONE THE DISTANCE. HE'S ALREADY BEEN UNDERWATER FOR ALMOST TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.
THEN HE BEGINS THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE DIVE. WITH HIS LAST RESERVES OF AIR AND HIS LUNGS NOW A TENTH OF
THEIR NORMAL SIZE, HE TRANSFERS AIR BETWEEN HIS MOUTH AND SINUSES, EQUALIZING THE PRESSURE IN HIS BODY TO PREVENT HIS EARS
FROM RUPTURING AND MAKES HIS WAY SLOWLY TOWARDS THE LIGHT. A TEAM OF SAFETY DIVER CIRCLING ALONG THE WAY.
BUT THAT'S NOT IT. HE THEN HAS TO PROVE HE'S ALERT, NOT DISORIENTED BY THE WATER'S CRUSHING PRESSURE BY GIVING THE
OKAY SIGN WITHIN 20 SECONDS OF SURFACING AND THEN PRESENTING HIS TAG. IF HE'S UNABLE TO DO THIS IN
THIS ORDER, THE DIVE IS DISQUALIFIED. MOLCHANOV DOES IT, DIVING 430 FEET FOR 4:33, SETTING A NEW
WORLD RECORD WITH A SINGLE BREATH. >> DURING THE DIVE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE ZEN, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO BE RELAXED AND NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE GOAL, HOW FAR DEEP YOU WANT TO GO BECAUSE THAT WILL DAMAGE YOUR MIND STATE, THE
CURRENT STATE, WHERE YOU STAY TO BE VERY FOCUSED, VERY STILL AND RELAXED. >> Reporter: PEOPLE THINK FREE
DIVING IS THIS VERY EXTREME SPORT. HOW DANGEROUS IS THE SPORT OF FREE DIVING?
>> THE MOST DANGEROUS SIDE OF FREE DIVING I WOULD SAY IF YOU GO OUT TO THE SEA AND FREE DIVE ALONE, THEN THAT'S VERY
DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK OF BLACKING OUT UNDERWATER. >> Reporter: BLACKOUTS HAPPEN WHEN DIVERS PUSH THEIR LIMITS
TOO FAR AND OXYGEN RESERVES ARE DRAINED, A FATE THAT CLAIMS THE LIVES OF ABOUT 60 RECREATIONAL FREE DRIVERS EACH YEAR.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE WORLD OF COMPETITIVE FREE DIVING HAS WORKED HARD TO PREVENT BY ADDING SAFETY DIVERS, UNDERWATER
MONITORING AND DOCTORS AT EVERY EVENT. THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE DEATH DURING A COMPETITION IN THE LAST
20 YEARS. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BLACKOUT? >> I HAVE. WHEN I WAS A BEGINNING FREE
DIVER, I WOULD BE VERY STUBBORN AND PUSH IT TO THE END. I WOULDN'T LISTEN TO THE SIGNALS MY BODY GIVES TO ME.
AND NOW I WILL HAVE MUCH BETTER AWARENESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> WHEN I WAS SITTING OUT THERE WATCHING YOU GUYS DIVE AND I WAS
WATCHING THE COMPETITORS, A LOT OF THEM WOULD COME UP AND GASP FOR AIR. AND YOU EMERGED FROM THE WATER
AND YOU SMILED. >> I THINK THAT'S AN ESSENCE OF BEING ABLE TO DO REALLY DEEP DIVES AND RECORDS.
IT'S VERY HARD TO DO THOSE DEEP DIVES VERY STRESSED. IT LOOKS FROM THE OUTSIDE EASY BUT IT'S NOT.
BY THE TIME I FINISH, MY MUSCLES ARE HEAVY AND HARD AND BURNING. STILL I SURFACE AND TRAIN THIS POSITIVE MINDSET.
SO I HAVE OVERCOMING BREATHS AND THIS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE AND NOW WHEN I GOT THOSE COUPLE BREATHS IS SO
BIG THAT IT GIVES SO MUCH JOY. >> HIS FAMOUSLY EASY TEMPERAMENT IS HOW THE MACHINE EARNED HIS OTHER NICKNAME, "THE GOLDEN
RETRIEVER." >> WHAT'S IT LIKE TO COMPETE AGAINST HIM? >> FOR ME IT'S LIKE A DREAM.
ALL THE TIME HE'S LAUGHING AND SMILING. ALL THE TIME HE ENJOYS LIFE AND IT BEAUTIFUL.
>> THEY ARE FRIENDS. GILBERT HOLDS A NATIONAL RECORD FROM MEXICO AND JANNAL HAS FRENCH RECORDS TO HIS NAME.
>> Reporter: WHAT MAKES HIM SO GOOD? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. >> I THINK IT'S EXPERIENCE.
>> HE HAS A VERY SPORTSMAN MINDSET. HE BELIEVES HE'S GROWING THE SPORT AND GROWING AND PUSHING
ATHLETES TO BECOME BETTER. >> THIS 26-YEAR-OLD IS ONE OF THE ONLY DIVERS WHO HAS BEAT HIS RECORD.
>> DO YOU PUSH IT DO YOU THINK? >> I PREFER MORE ROMANTIC TO ALEXEY. >> ONLY A RUSSIAN MIGHT THINK
THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA. IN 2020, ALEXEY SWAM BENEATH A FROZEN QUARRY OUTSIDE OF MOSCOW. HOLES WERE CUT IN THE ICE IN
CASE HE NEEDED TO SURFACE, BUT HE HELD HIS BREATH FOR NEARLY THREE MINUTES SWIMMING NEARLY 600 FEET ACROSS.
LAST SPRING HE STEPPED INTO THE ICE IN SIBERIA FOR A SWIM. IT WAS 14 DEGREES OUTSIDE WHEN HE BROKE ANOTHER WORLD RECORD.
THE DEEPEST DIVE UNDER ICE WITH FINS. ON A SINGLE BREATH, HE SWAM TO 262 FEET DEEP IN 37 DEGREE
WATER. >> THAT DOES NOT SOUND JOYFUL TO ME. >> THAT WAS WAS NOT AS JOYFUL AS
HERE FOR SURE. >> Reporter: AND DOES THE COLD ADD ADDITIONAL STRESSES TO YOUR BODY?
>> IT DOES. IT MAKES THE FACE NUMB AND YOU LOSE HEAT VERY FAST. IT GIVES YOU A VERY SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DIVE AND I NEED TO FOCUS FAST. >> Reporter: MOLCHANOV GETS DIVE READY ON LAND.
HE DOES DALY STRETCHES AND DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES, SOMETHING HE CALLS RIB GYMNASTICS TO BUILD DIAPHRAGM, RIB AND BACK MOBILITY
OPINION. >> I WOULD JUST DEMONSTRATE. INHALE. EXHALE.
AND THERE IS THIS PORTION IN THE NEXT AND THE MOUTH WHICH I GRAB AND PUSH IT IN THE BOX. >> THOSE WHO STUDY MOLCHANOV
ESTIMATE HE TAKES IN TWO GALLONS OF AIR BEFORE A DIVE. IT'S A TECHNIQUE HE LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER, NATALIA MOLCHANOV,
CONSIDERED THE GREATEST FREE DIVER OF ALL TIME. SHE CAME AT THE SPORT AT 40 YEARS OLD AFTER A SUCCESSFUL
SWIMMING CAREER IN RUSSIA. >> SHE WAS MY COACH IN SWIMMING. I WAS FOLLOWING HER TRAININGS. WE WOULD GO TO THE POOL, SHE
WOULD DO HER TRAINING, AND I WOULD DO MY TRAINING. ME FOLLOWING HER AS A FREE DIVER, THAT WAS VERY NATURAL.
SHE STARTED TO BE THE BEST, VERY, VERY FAST. I WAS PROUD, VERY PROUD OF HER. >> WHAT DID SHE TEACH YOU ABOUT
THE SPORT? >> THE MAIN THING THAT SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT FREE DIVING IS THAT I SHOULD ENJOY IT.
IT NOT ABOUT RECORDS. THOSE COME LATER. >> Reporter: TOGETHER THEY TOOK ON THE FREE DIVING WORLD AND
COMMANDED IT. ALKS A HE ACHIEVED HIS FIRST RECORD AT
AGE 21. HIS MOTHER HELD 42 RECORDS AND SHE WAS TEACHING A FREE DIVING LESSON OFF THE COAST OF SPAIN
WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED. HER BODY WAS NEVER FOUND. >> AT THAT POINT YOU KEPT FREE DIVING.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE BLAMED YOU IF YOU SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M DONE. WHY DID YOU KEEP GOING?
>> I FELT THAT FREE DIVING IS ACTUALLY THE BEST THING FOR ME TO DO. IT WAS THE BEST THERAPY BEING IN
THE WATER AND BEING -- >> REALLY? >> YEAH. IT JUST HELPED TO BE LIKE IN
PEACE AND HELPED TO BE LIKE TO JUST LIVE FOR THAT. >> MOLCHANOV SEEMS AT PEACE UNDERWATER, CHASING WHALES AND
NOT RECORDS AND ON LAND WITH HIS NEW SON AND HIS WIFE ELENA, A FORMER OLYMPIC SWIMMER. THE FAMILY IS EXPANDING THE FREE
DIVING SCHOOL HIS MOTHER STARTED, CERTIFYING HUNDREDS OF INSTRUCTORS IN 20 COUNTRIES. AS THE SPORT GROWS, ALEXEY FEELS
CONFIDENCE IN HIS PLACE IN IT. AT 35 HE HOLDS TWO DOZEN WORLD RECORDS. >> YOU DON'T THINK YOU'VE
REACHED YOUR LIMIT TO FREEDOM? >> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT. I KNOW WITH ALL THE SKILLS I HAVE, ALL THE MIND CONTROL I
HAVE, I CAN GO DEEPER. BECAUSE I CAN, THEN >>> I'M BILL WHITAKER. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH