Deepfakes: Opportunity For Businesses or a Cybersecurity Threat?

Technology is advancing at an ever-increasing rate, and it is hard to imagine where it is going to take us. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have come from science fiction stories to real life as of late. And it is scary how advanced it is already becoming. With all that advancement, it pays to be cautious.

Deepfakes have become an issue in the world of media and cybersecurity. It is more important than ever to be wary of what you view. While Deepfakes can be used for some interesting purposes, you should keep security concerns in mind too.

What is Deepfake?

In general terms, a deepfake is taking any previously recorded media and using artificial intelligence to replace people or even places in it.  In a way, it’s a photo or video manipulation. And many use it to create a recording that deceives others.

Deepfake technology can take any person who has been recorded and manipulate it to look like anything the user wants. Basically, they can fake images and videos to look completely real.

One can use existing video and audio recordings to make any person seem like they are saying something they never actually did. For example, the Ph.D. student at MIT created a video that seemed like Obama was giving the introduction to their Deep Learning class. Obama looked like he does in any real video, sounded pretty natural, and his facial expressions synced with the audio. Yet, the situation was fake.

Who Wrote That?

AI creates deepfake text that is becoming almost impossible to differentiate from human writing. It is all thanks to different language models that have been developed in recent years to assist artificial intelligence. While it can be helpful to content creators and web developers, in the wrong hands, it becomes a tool to manipulate other people.

Is That Really You?

The implications of deepfake technology come in the form of manipulated images and videos. Artificial intelligence is capable of taking recorded images or video of a person and doctoring it to change things. It could completely replace a person with someone else or have them say or do something they actually didn’t. If used correctly, it has promise in many fields, but there are always criminals looking to take advantage.

It Can Slash Digital Media Costs

While there are some security concerns with deepfake technology, the positives are still there for different industries. Media companies will be able to produce digital content and effects that will change their usual process. They can use it to change ages, genders, voices, and many other things that used to be done by costly CGI teams.

It also means that foreign media may be more accessible for the average consumer to view. Many people cannot or choose not to use subtitles. Deepfake technology can make them a thing of the past. It could change the voices and language while also improving the video to coincide with it.

The Human Factor

Things would have been different if someone like Stephen Hawking didn’t have to speak in a computerized voice. With audio deepfake technology, you can give a person their voice back if there is enough of it recorded. People have medical issues or accidents that may render them unable to speak. If paired with a basic text-to-speech program, that person could be talking like before again.

Security Concerns

If you’re concerned with how far this technology is advancing, you’re not alone. Experts have already released deepfake videos of famous figures, such as Barack Obama, that are very convincing. The ability to imitate anyone could cause some severe problems. It is a big concern when it comes to political campaigns or elections, and online or phone scams.

Experts across the globe are working on different ways to detect deepfakes and keep the public safe. They haven't perfected any of their methods yet, so it makes sense to stay cautious. Take everything with a grain of salt when taking in media online; you may be watching a deepfake.

Moreover, if you don’t want anyone to take advantage of your photos or videos, it may be the right time to take a look at your digital footprint. Everything you do online can be tracked one way or another. So to avoid identity theft or deepfakes imitating you, clean up your social media and limit access to your posts by setting them private. Keep your activities online private, too, by using a VPN when you surf the web. What is a VPN? It’s a service that encrypts your online traffic and changes your IP address (https://nordvpn.com/what-is-a-vpn/), covering your digital footprints as you browse.

Conclusion

Deepfakes do have some unique uses and could benefit many businesses. But like any other technology, one can use it for nefarious purposes. So, don’t take everything you watch, read, or hear online for granted. Now fake videos and audios follow fake news, so it’s more important than ever to choose your information wisely.