Introduction to Deepfakes and Their Impact on Society
Fifty years ago this month, I covered my first political campaign. In the decades that followed I came to see most politicians as among the most charming people on the planet. Many are incredibly likeable. They could sell eggs to a hen. That’s their business.
I was taught that there were two sides to every story. Both were usually somewhat plausible. My job was to present the facts. Let the readers decide. Once, the top commissioner in Pennsylvania’s richest county that I covered was ticked that a subordinate told the press an embarrassing detail about the county budget.
“All I did was tell the truth,” the minor official explained to the top guy, he told me later. The top guy ― a lawyer, stood up ― walked over to a window and said, “Don’t you know there are at least five different ways to tell the truth?” He paused and then added, “I bet you never heard it put quite that way, did you?”
Understanding Deepfakes
Which brings me to my major concern here: Those deepfake videos. If you think (rightly) that American politics are shattered, with the advent of this powerful tool, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Combine the power of video storytelling with the necessity of winning an election to stay in power, and you have the motivation for grand fakery.
Old-time political bosses passed out turkeys for the holidays. Newbies handed out “literature” and ran the campaign copier, churning out issue-oriented “white papers” on hot topics. Now there’s no more white papers or campaign literature. Forget all that. So quaint.
Now all you need is an AI creator with a goal: make it look like what the person said was actually said, when it wasn’t. This won’t only affect politics. Consumers will be misled through sophisticated deepfake sales videos. Fake celebrity videos will tout bogus products. Deepfake artists will run sophisticated investment scams. Reputations and life savings will be shattered because of AI video lies.
Impact of Deepfakes on Society
As a New York Times headline recently announced, “A.I. videos are so good you can no longer trust your eyes.” The Times reported that “any video you see on an app that involves scrolling through short videos, such as TikTok, Instagram’s Reels, YouTube Shorts and Snapchat now have a high likelihood of being fake.” Tell that to your teenagers.
Usually, such a dirty trick as the recent Sen. Charles Schumer video would be handled by an outside political hack whose name is used as a shield. For this, the makers didn’t bother. The National Republican Senatorial Committee proudly claimed credit. As Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine put it: “We are [in] a terrifying new world.”
The Latest Development in Deepfakes
The latest development is the pending release of OpenAI’s deepfake software, Sora, which digitizes users’ faces and voices. It’s billed as a game changer because its features are sharp, and it only takes minutes to make one. To protect us, earlier this year, Congress passed the Take It Down Act, which creates legal protection when someone’s image is used without their permission.
That’s a baby step. Another possible solution is we all copyright our face, voice and body so no one can use them. This month Denmark passed a new law doing exactly that.
Protecting Yourself from Deepfakes
Some tips: Start with skepticism. Assume any video could be fake. Look carefully. Do the words sync perfectly with the speaker’s mouth? That used to be a good clue—but new AI tools are overcoming that. Before you buy any products promoted in videos don’t click on any links. Research both the product and the company. Most of the time, you’ll be surprised by what you find, either good or bad.
In an era where seeing is no longer believing, truth now demands more than honesty. Truth requires vigilance. If that Pennsylvania politician had five ways to tell the truth, think how many more ways there are today.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, deepfakes are a powerful tool that can be used to manipulate and deceive people. They have the potential to impact not only politics but also the way we consume products and services. It is essential to be aware of the risks associated with deepfakes and take steps to protect ourselves from their potential harm.
FAQs
Q: What are deepfakes?
A: Deepfakes are AI-generated videos or audio recordings that can be used to make it look like someone said or did something they didn’t.
Q: How can I protect myself from deepfakes?
A: Start with skepticism, assume any video could be fake, look carefully, and research the product or company before making a purchase.
Q: What is the latest development in deepfakes?
A: The latest development is the pending release of OpenAI’s deepfake software, Sora, which digitizes users’ faces and voices.
Q: What can be done to prevent the misuse of deepfakes?
A: Congress has passed the Take It Down Act, which creates legal protection when someone’s image is used without their permission. Another possible solution is to copyright our face, voice, and body so no one can use them.
