Deepfakes – What are they, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself
Image by Alan Warburton / © BBC / Better Images of AI / Virtual Human / CC-BY 4.0
As technology advances, spotting deepfakes is becoming more challenging. With the rise in deepfake misuse, it’s important to learn how to identify them to prevent the spread of disinformation.
What is a deepfake?
A deepfake is a synthetic image, audio or video in which someone is digitally altered so that they look, sound or act like someone else. Created by machine learning algorithms, deepfakes have raised concerns over their use in fake celebrity pornography, financial fraud and the spreading of false political information. Deepfake can also refer to realistic but completely synthetic media of people and objects that have never physically existed, or to sophisticated text generated by algorithms
The dangers
As deepfakes become more convincing, they present various risks, including:
The spread of fake news – manipulated content using deepfakes are used to spread disinformation and create false narratives
Loss of trust – people may find it difficult to differentiate between real and fake media, leading to doubt
Denial of reality – people might resort to using deepfakes as an excuse to deny real events. For example, when Prince Andrew questioned the authenticity of a photo with Virginia Giuffre.
Security risk – deepfakes might be used to trick systems relying on face/voice recognition increasing the potential for scams.
It is worth mentioning that not all deepfakes are harmful and/or malicious; some are used for entertainment purposes or historical recreations. This article focuses on the dangers to raise awareness and educate the public.
How to spot a deepfake
Identifying a deepfake requires careful considering. The following tips should help you when determining if content if authentic. If in doubt, do you research to avoid spreading misinformation.
Examine features: look closely at the persons hands and face. Do they have the correct number of fingers? Do their features match other photos of them?
Watch for blinking: are they blinking normally?
Lip syncing: is the lip movement in sync with the speech?
Check the timeline: verify when the photo/video was claimed to have been taken. Does it align with events at the time?
Observe movements: does the person’s movement appear natural?
Listen to speech: does it sound robotic or unnatural?
Verify the source: who posted the video? Are they a reliable source?
Read the comments: what are others saying in response to the post?
Image quality: assess the overall quality of the image
The law
Creating a Deepfake is not illegal. However, legal action can be taken if a deepfake infringes on copyright, breaches data protection laws or is defamatory. Legal action will depend on the specific offense.
In Scotland, deepfakes now fall under revenge porn law. This means it is a criminal offence to share or threaten to share a deepfake image or film that shows another person in an intimate situation without their consent.
How to report a deepfake
If you have been targeted by a deepfake, it is important that you report it. You should:
Keep evidence – keep a record of the deepfake by taking screenshots and saving links
Report the content - if the deepfake was shared on an online platform, file a complaint and request the content is removed
Contact your local police – if the deepfakes involves you personally, report it to your local police
How to protect yourself
It is unlikely an image of yourself will be used to create a deepfake, however, if this is something that concerns you, there are several precautions you can take:
Make your social media platforms private
Enable strong privacy settings on your online platforms
Watermark photos to discourage people from using them
Stay informed about deepfakes and AI to remain vigilant
Use strong passwords to keep you safe from hackers
Keep your software up-to-date – updated software will have the latest security updates
Report deepfakes when you see them