Deepfake Technology.

 

What is Deepfake.

Deepfake is software that is propelled by artificial intelligence and capable of superimposing a digital composite visage or voice onto an existing video or audio of a person. Nonetheless, it is lamentable that it has been weaponized by evildoers in modern times.

Current condition.

Problem 1: Ease in creating disinformation.

In 2019, Mark Zukerberg, the founder of Facebook, was "deepfaked" for a video in which he discussed the ominous topic of the power of big data. Yet, Zuckerberg never uttered those remarks, and the actual video is Zuckerberg's 2017 presentation on Russian election interference on Facebook. Ironically, Facebook did not remove the video and merely declared that they will restrict exposure to such erroneous content; consequently, the world will be rife with disinformation in the future as deepfake technology advances to flawlessness. At that point, it will be child's play to create a video of each of us saying something we've never said before, making it even easier for people to disseminate disinformation, make propaganda, or attempt to malign someone with fabricated remarks, and we won't even be able to distinguish between the real ones and the fake ones.

Problem 2: Compromised cybersecurity.

Furthermore, internet users’ security is substantially jeopardized by the ease with which deepfakes can impersonate a person without their consent. There is a slew of instances in which deepfakes could be used to perpetrate cybercrime, such as phishing, sextortion, and identity theft. For illustration, by producing real-time audio and video cloning with deepfake technology, cybercriminals may effortlessly steal our identities and attempt to solicit funds from our contact lists; subsequently, deepfake renders everyone's privacy worthless and increases their risk of being cyberstalked. 

Ergo, experts have recognized deepfakes as one of the most significant AI-related criminal concerns.

What is the ideal scenario for the future of deepfake.

Though contemplating the pervasive misuse of deepfake may give us an inkling that its future is dismal and that it is doomed to be used in negative ways, I believe that in the future, deepfake will have an enormous effect on a multitude of industries, including film, education, healthcare, and numerous others, due to its exceptional potential. 

Deepfake has made it possible to "resurrect" Paul Walker, who passed away during production of "Fast & Furious 7," and complete the film. 

Additionally, the film industry will conserve more time on dubbing, as deepfake only requires the initial footage and human-recorded dialogue dubs to create videos that are spoken in any desired language. Similarly, deepfake is advantageous for the education industry as it allows for more interactive teachings. Instead of requiring students to read voluminous slides and articles, deepfake could generate interactive lecture videos or animated versions of people. 

Lastly, using deepfakes to assist physicians become more empathetic through the analysis of patients' facial expressions using emotion recognition technology will have a significant impact on the healthcare industry and the lives of patients suffering from aphantasia, the inability to visualize objects or people. Thus, future growth of deepfakes is inevitable, but prompt action must be taken before the misuse becomes catastrophic.

How to bridge the present with the ideal state.

Solution 1: Implement application standards and filter deepfake content using a detector.

Despite the havoc deepfake might bring to the digital world, it has not been deemed forbidden to employ. Thus, for the purpose to avert the fraudulent use of deepfake, nations worldwide should inspect deepfake content using detector tools and enact draconian and clarified application rules. In actuality, not all instances of the dissemination of fake content or the use of deepfake software are essentially detrimental, and there are numerous benign applications. Hence, rather than prohibiting the use of deepfake, which would restrict the use of creative individuals, gatekeepers might adopt AI detector tools that use the same AI model as deepfake content creators so that they can effectively identify deepfake media content and take appropriate action. Indeed, the regulations stated must be exhaustive, including limitations on permissible use and penalties for those who exploit deepfake for nefarious reasons. 

Solution 2: Blockchain technology.

Next, it may be feasible to use blockchain technology to tackle the misuse of deepfake. Due to the fact that blockchain is a public, tamper-resistant ledger, it is suitable for preventing deepfakes misapplication. 

Simply put, when a digital media is written into the ledger, it will be allocated a cryptographic hash, which will act as the distinct fingerprint of the corresponding file; the fingerprint will then be uploaded to a blockchain, where it will be globally accessible, thereby making it more accountable as every user will be able to scrutinize each other. 

Therefore, every bit of media will have its own cryptographic hash on the blockchain, akin as a timestamp. When media content is modified, a new hash that refers the prior hash will be generated and added to the blockchain. Therefore, tracing the original source of media content would be a breeze.

Solution 3: Be skeptical and explore numerous sources.

Although people can still recognize deepfake-produced videos and audio hitherto, the time will ultimately come when such content will be indistinguishable. By then, the copious quantity of diverse information will have confounded us. Therefore, as internet consumers, we must be vigilant and skeptical of any media content we ingest on social media, as anything could be false at this juncture, even if it comes from our digitally close companions. As some content may be created with the intent to deliberately deceive or defame someone, it is of paramount importance for internet users to verify the veracity of the information presented by reviewing various sources. While many view the decline of trust negatively, it could be a blessing in disguise if viewed from a different angle. The overabundance of disinformation maintains our skepticism towards media content, indirectly fostering an environment of independent thinking and media literacy.

Reflection.

The reason I'm bringing up this topic is because mass media have such a powerful impact and influence on people in general, deepfake may be something that everyone should be aware of and comprehend both the threats it poses and how to use it to our advantage. 

References.

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