Deepfake technology utilizes machine learning and AI to superimpose a person’s likeness onto another person’s existing image or video, creating a synthetic media that appears authentic.

Recently a deepfake video of Rashmika Mandana went viral on social media. Alia Bhatt’s deepfake videos are also available on the internet.

These incidents made me write and provide information about what is deepfake, is deepfake legal, how deepfakes are dangerous and much more.

Deepfakes are created by training a deep learning model on a large dataset of images or videos of two people. The model learns to map the facial features of one person onto the other person’s body. Once the model is trained, it can be used to create synthetic videos of one person saying or doing things that they never actually said or did.

Deepfake can be used for a variety of purposes, including entertainment, education, and social commentary.

For example, deepfakes have been used to create comedic videos, such as a video of Tom Cruise reading the phone book, and to create educational videos, such as a video of President Obama explaining the Affordable Care Act.

How is deepfake different from artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad field of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. Deepfakes are a type of AI that is used to create synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness.

AI is a broad field of computer science, while deepfakes are a specific application of AI. However, deepfakes are created using AI techniques, such as deep learning.

Deep learning is a type of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks to learn from data. Neural networks are inspired by the structure of the human brain, and they can learn complex patterns in data. This makes them ideal for tasks such as image and video recognition.

Deepfakes can be used for a variety of purposes, including entertainment, education, and social commentary.

However, they can also be used to create harmful content, such as fake news videos and revenge porn. It is important to be aware of the potential dangers of deepfakes and to be critical of the media that you consume.

Is deepfake legal?

The legality of deepfakes varies depending on the jurisdiction. In some places, such as the European Union, there are specific laws that prohibit the creation and distribution of deepfakes without consent. In other places, such as the United States, there are no specific laws against deepfakes, but they may be illegal under other laws, such as copyright law or privacy law.

Here are some examples of how deepfakes could be illegal:

• Creating a deepfake video of someone without their consent could be considered a violation of their privacy.
• Creating a deepfake video of someone saying or doing something that they never actually said or did could be considered defamation.
• Creating a deepfake video of someone engaging in illegal or immoral activity could be considered a crime.

It is important to note that the law is still developing in this area, and it is not always clear whether or not a particular deepfake is legal. If you are unsure about the legality of a deepfake, it is best to err on the side of caution and not create or distribute it.

Here are some tips for staying on the right side of the law when it comes to deepfakes:

• Only create deepfakes with the consent of all people involved.
• Do not use deepfakes to spread misinformation or damage people’s reputations.
• Do not use deepfakes to commit crimes.

If you are unsure about the legality of a particular deepfake, you should consult with an attorney.

Is deepfake dangerous?

Yes, deepfakes can be dangerous. They can be used to spread misinformation, damage people’s reputations, and commit crimes.

Here are some specific examples:

Misinformation: 

Deepfakes can be used to create fake news videos that can be used to manipulate public opinion or sow discord. For example, a deepfake video of a politician saying something controversial could be used to damage their campaign.

Reputation damage: 

Deepfakes can be used to create fake videos of people saying or doing things that they never actually said or did. A deepfake video of a celebrity engaging in illegal or immoral activity could harm their reputation.

Crime: 

Deepfakes can be used to commit crimes such as fraud and blackmail. For example, a deepfake video of someone authorizing a financial transaction could be used to steal money. Or, a deepfake porn video of someone making a threat could be used to blackmail them.

In addition to the specific examples mentioned, deepfakes can erode trust in media and public institutions. If people are worried about the authenticity of videos and images, they may become distrustful of all visual media. This could harm democracy and society as a whole.

Tips for spotting deepfake

It is crucial to be aware of the potential dangers of deepfakes and to critically evaluate the media you consume. Here are some tips for spotting deepfake:

• Pay attention to the person’s facial expressions and movements. Deepfakes can sometimes make people look unnatural or stiff.
• Look for inconsistencies in the lighting and shadows. Deepfakes can sometimes create artefacts in the image or video.
• Be suspicious of videos that seem too good to be true. If a video shows something that seems impossible, it is likely a deepfake.

If you are unsure whether a video is a deepfake, you can search online for debunking. You can also use tools such as Deepfake Lab to analyze the video for signs of manipulation.

It’s crucial to recognize both the advantages and drawbacks of deepfake technology as it continues to advance. Hence, It’s essential to be critical of manipulated media.