Anonymization of Voices in Spaces for Civic Dialogue: Measuring Impact on Empathy, Trust, and Feeling Heard

TL;DR

This study evaluates voice anonymization techniques in civic dialogue platforms, focusing on how voice conversion and TTS affect empathy, trust, and feeling heard, with voice conversion showing promising results.

Contribution

It compares voice conversion and TTS methods for voice anonymization in civic dialogue, highlighting voice conversion's effectiveness in fostering trust and empathy.

Findings

Voice conversion enhances feelings of trust and empathy.

Voice conversion improves perceived sense of being heard.

TTS methods are less effective for emotional engagement.

Abstract

Anonymity is a powerful component of many participatory media platforms that can afford people greater freedom of expression and protection from external coercion and interference. However, it can be difficult to effectively implement on platforms that leverage spoken language due to distinct biomarkers present in the human voice. In this work, we explore the use of voice anonymization methods within the context of a technology-enhanced civic dialogue network based in the United States, whose purpose is to increase feelings of agency and being heard within civic processes. Specifically, we investigate the use of two different speech transformation and synthesis methods for anonymization: voice conversion (VC) and text-to-speech (TTS). Through a series of two studies, we examine the impact that each method has on 1) the empathy and trust that listeners feel towards a person sharing a personal story, and 2) a speaker's own perception of being heard, finding that voice conversion is an especially suitable method for our purposes. Our findings open up interesting potential research directions related to anonymous spoken discourse, as well as additional ways of engaging with voice-based civic technologies.