Madeleine McCann ‘FaceApp AI’ could offer breakthrough after missing kid found years later

Madeleine McCann ‘FaceApp AI’ could offer breakthrough after missing kid found years later

THE search for Madeleine McCann could be handed a huge boost after FaceApp-style AI was used to reunite a Chinese man with his family 18 years after being kidnapped.

By David Rivers / Published 19th July 2019

Yu Weifeng, 21, was dramatically reunited with his family yesterday after police used the technology to predict what the missing boy looked like now.

They then used facial recognition technology to identify a subject considered the highest match.

But the continued improvement of this technology could boost the search for Madeleine McCann, who went missing from Praia da Luz in 2007 then aged 3.

Because only days before Weifeng was found, British tourists were being urged to take posters of Maddie on their holidays to help trace her.

On the official Find Maddie Campaign website, Kate and Gerry say: “It could be the poster that brings Madeleine home.”

“Are you going on holiday? Please consider taking our luggage tags and posters.

“You can download and print from home. Thank you for not giving up on Madeleine."

But if they are able to estimate what Maddie will look like with better technology, it could boost their poster mission.

It also comes after FaceApp exploded in popularity in recent weeks.

Scores of people, including high-profile celebrities, have been sharing images of themselves as they may look in decades.

After Weifeng was found, investigator Zheng Zhenhai said: “When he found him, he refused to believe that he was a kidnapped child, but DNA confirmed that he was a match with his biological parents.

“We opened the case the day after the incident, and we never gave up.

“Technology was limited at the time. We checked surveillance footage, but there were simply too many people coming in and out of the area.”

His emotional dad added: “We’re also very grateful to his foster parents for raising him for 18 years. From now on, his foster father will become like a brother to me; my son will have two dads.”

Cops say they are still investigating the kidnapping with no arrests so far.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/792912/madeleine-mccann-faceapp-ai-search-breakthrough

And from Ms Kandohla

'FRESH HOPE'
Madeleine McCann’s parents urged to create new ‘age progression’ pics after FaceApp-style tech helps find boy kidnapped 18 years ago

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9550838/madeleine-mccann-parents-urged-to-create-new-age-progression-pictures/

FaceApp-style tech could help crack Madeleine McCann case after another missing child found

The Sun, News Corp Australia Network

July 20, 2019 8:27pm

Most of us use facial recognition AI apps for fun, but a FaceApp-style AI could solve one of the most mysterious cases — the disappearance of Maddie McCann.

According to The Sun, Yu Weifeng, 21, was reunited with his family after police used the technology to predict what the missing lad would look like as a grown man before searching a huge database.

The AI used by the police was able to predict with high accuracy what the missing boy might look like now — much like the recently trending FaceApp.

Cold-case investigators in Shenzhen’s Futian District, which is in South China’s Guangdong Province, were then able to couple the Tencent AI Lab predictions.

MORE: Bombshell clue on new Maddie suspect

The software spent about two months sorting through nearly 100 candidates before singling out Weifeng, who is a student in the provincial capital Guangzhou.

Investigator Zheng Zhenhai said: “When he found him, he refused to believe that he was a kidnapped child, but DNA confirmed that he was a match with his biological parents.”

Weifeng, whose adoptive parents had given him the family name Li, went missing on 6th May 2001 while playing near a construction site where his dad worked as a foreman.

Zheng added: “We opened the case the day after the incident and we never gave up.

“Technology was limited at the time.

“We checked surveillance footage, but there were simply too many people coming in and out of the area.”


Madeleine McCann, pictured here after playing dress-ups, went missing from the family holiday apartment in Portugal just days before her fourth birthday. Picture: Supplied

The technology could now boost the search for Madeleine McCann, who went vanishing from Praia da Luz in 2007 then aged three.

It comes as British tourists were being urged to take posters of Madeleine on their holidays in a bid to find her.

The official Find Madeleine Campaign website says: “Fortunately, there are many cases of abducted children being found and returned to their families — even after long periods of time.

“The vital piece of information that leads to a happy and longed-for reunion is usually thanks to a caring and vigilant member of the general public, often recognising a face from a poster.”

After Weifeng was found, investigator Zheng Zhenhai said: “When he found him, he refused to believe that he was a kidnapped child, but DNA confirmed that he was a match with his biological parents.

“We opened the case the day after the incident, and we never gave up.

“Technology was limited at the time. We checked surveillance footage, but there were simply too many people coming in and out of the area.”

His emotional dad added: “We’re also very grateful to his foster parents for raising him for 18 years. From now on, his foster father will become like a brother to me; my son will have two dads.”

Police say they are still probing the kidnapping with no arrests so far.

This story first appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/faceappstyle-tech-could-help-crack-madeleine-mccann-case-after-another-missing-child-found/news-story/71b7039b91f134168620e3a7a6adfcdf

Chuffing 'eck - to boldly go where no man has gone before

@Jill Havern wrote:And from Ms Kandohla

'FRESH HOPE'
Madeleine McCann’s parents urged to create new ‘age progression’ pics after FaceApp-style tech helps find boy kidnapped 18 years ago

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9550838/madeleine-mccann-parents-urged-to-create-new-age-progression-pictures/

A close pal of the McCann’s said: “This incredible news of a child being found after such a long time and with new photo technology will give Kate and Gerry fresh hope.”

@sharonl wrote:So this guy was kidnapped over 18 years ago and lived with foster parents since then? 

There's something seriously wrong with this.  

How did he get away from the kidnappers and into the clutches of the foster parents?  We're any questions asked about this stray 3 year old? Are the foster parents being questioned?  Are they suspects? 

How was he found? He didn't come forward because he didn't believe he was kidnapped.  Who approached him?

Why am I not buying this story?

I assume he was kidnapped, then fostered out for money, the foster parents probably didn't know or didn't care he was kidnapped.

Perhaps the McCanns are going to have the make-up 'photo age progressed? I say that in jest, but it would come as no surprise. It could be shown alongside a large pair of pyjamas.

@sharonl wrote:   Why can i not find any previous reference to this case on the internet?  

Yes, and the newspapers world wide refers to "The Sun" and "Metro" as sources.
I've searched the entire websites of the largest english newspapers in China, "China Morning Post" and "China Daily" but found nothing.