Deepfakes: What Are They and How to Spot Them

Deepfakes are realistic-looking fake videos or audio recordings that have been created using artificial intelligence. They can be used to create everything from harmless memes to malicious disinformation. Here's what you need to know about deepfakes.

How are Deepfakes Made?

Deepfakes are typically created using a type of AI called a generative adversarial network (GAN). A GAN consists of two neural networks: a generator and a discriminator. The generator creates the fake video or audio, and the discriminator tries to determine whether it's real or fake. The two networks work together in a constant feedback loop, with the generator getting better and better at creating realistic fakes, and the discriminator getting better and better at spotting them.

The Dangers of Deepfakes

Deepfakes can be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including:

• Spreading misinformation and disinformation: Deepfakes can be used to create fake news stories or to put words in a politician's mouth.
• Creating non-consensual pornography: Deepfakes can be used to superimpose a person's face onto a pornographic video.
• Committing fraud: Deepfakes can be used to impersonate someone in order to gain access to their bank account or other sensitive information.

How to Spot a Deepfake

It can be difficult to spot a deepfake, but there are a few things you can look for:

• Unnatural eye movements: The eyes in a deepfake may not blink naturally, or they may move in a strange way.
• Awkward facial expressions: The facial expressions in a deepfake may look unnatural or out of sync with the audio.
• Blurring or distortion: There may be blurring or distortion around the edges of the face.
• Strange lighting: The lighting in a deepfake may not be consistent with the rest of the video.

The Future of Deepfakes

Deepfake technology is constantly improving, and it's likely that it will become even more difficult to spot deepfakes in the future. It's important to be aware of the dangers of deepfakes and to be critical of the information you see online.