*The digital media in the form of video, audio and images that are manipulated using artificial intelligence are referred to as deepfakes.
*Deepfakes are a new tool to spread computational propaganda and disinformation at large scale with speed.
*The synthetic media (deepfakes) can create possibilities and opportunities for all people irrespective of their location and how they communicate.
*Deepfakes can inflict damage to individuals, institutions, businesses and democracy by spreading false information.
Issues
1. Deepfakes can be used to create malicious pornographic content in the form of inflicting emotional, reputational and violence towards women and thus reducing them to sex objects.
2. They can depict a person involved in antisocial behaviours that could have severe implications on their reputation, and could damage their personal and professional life.
3. Deepfakes can be used to extract money, confidential information or extract favours from Individuals.
4. They can be used to spread hatred among communities and cause short-term and long-term harm and also accelerate the declining trust in news media.
5. False information about institutions, public policy created in the form of deepfakes can be exploited to create social unrest in a democracy.
6. It can also be used as a tool by authoritarian regimes to justify oppression and disenfranchise citizens.
Solutions
1. Collaborative actions and collective techniques across legislative regulations, technology interventions and media literacy is the need of the hour.
2. Media literacy for consumers and journalists is the most effective tool to combat disinformation and deepfakes.
3. Technology needs to be enabled to detect deepfakes, authenticate media and amplify authoritative sources.
BY-RISHABH GOYAL