A FLOOD of deepfakes and “misinformation” threatens to disrupt the 2024 US presidential election.
That’s the warning from experts who say it’s now “easier than ever” to create fake videos, images and audio recordings.
It is thanks to artificial intelligence applications that allow you to digitally recreate people’s faces and voices.
And this can be used to make it seem like a person is doing or saying something they have never done.
Earlier this year, New Hampshire residents received phone messages from an AI voice “cloning” President Joe Biden that discouraged them from voting.
Now, experts say the risks of false information reaching voters are greater.
“The rise of AI has made it easier than ever to create fake images, fake videos and doctored audio recordings that look real,” said Christian Hetrick of the University of Southern California.
“With elections quickly approaching, emerging technology threatens to flood the Internet with misinformation, potentially shaping public opinion. opiniontrust and behavior in our democracy.”
The problem is that AI applications make it extremely simple to create fake content.
For example, a voice can be cloned in a matter of seconds.
And one expert recently told The US Sun that they could make a person appear to say anything just from a single photo.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
The University of Southern California has released some official guidance on how to detect deepfakes.
A big problem is confirming what you see from multiple sources.
This is especially true if a video or image makes an especially bold statement.
You should also be skeptical of any News this is highly emotional – and don’t forget to analyze it if it is false.
Deepfakes – what are they and how do they work?
Here’s what you need to know…
- Deepfakes are fake videos of people that look perfectly real
- They are made using computers to generate convincing representations of events that never happened
- Often this involves swapping one person’s face with another’s or making them say whatever you want.
- The process begins by feeding an AI with hundreds or even thousands of photos of the victim
- A machine learning algorithm swaps certain parts frame by frame until it generates a realistic but fake photo or video
- In a famous deepfake clip, comedian Jordan Peele created a realistic video of Barack Obama in which the former president called Donald Trump an “imbecile.”
- In another, Will Smith’s face is pasted onto the character Neo in the action film The Matrix. Smith turned down the role to star in the failed film Wild Wild West, while the Matrix role went to Keanu Reeves
And be sure to double-check what you’re reading before sharing it, otherwise you may make the problem worse.
“Democracies depend on informed citizens and residents participating as fully as possible and expressing their opinions and needs through the ballot box,” said Mindy Romero of the University of Southern California.
“The concern is that decreased levels of trust in democratic institutions could interfere with electoral processes, foster instability, polarization and could be a tool for foreign interference in politics.”
She added: “It can be difficult for people to protect themselves against misinformation.”
DEFENSE AGAINST DEEPFAKES
Here’s what Sean Keachhead of technology and science at The Sun and The US Sun, has this to say…
The rise of deepfakes is one of the most worrying trends in online security.
Deepfake technology can create videos of you even from a single photo – so almost no one is safe.
But although it seems a little desperate, the rapid rise of deepfakes has some advantages.
For starters, there is much greater awareness about deepfakes now.
Therefore, people will look for signs that a video could be faked.
Likewise, technology companies are investing time and money in software that can detect fake AI content.
This means social media will be able to flag false content for you with greater confidence – and more frequently.
As the quality of deepfakes increases, you will likely have difficulty spotting visual errors – especially a few years from now.
So your best defense is your common sense: apply thorough scrutiny to everything you watch online.
Ask if the video is something that would make sense for someone to fake – and who benefits from you seeing that clip?
If you’ve been told something alarming, a person is saying something that seems strange, or you’re being led into a hasty action, there’s a chance you’re watching a fraudulent clip.
Last month, experts told The US Sun that even “living offline” is not enough to combat deepfakes – because people can still find photos, videos or audio clips of you.
And scammers are even using AI for a variety of scams, including romance scams.
Experts say being able to detect errors in deepfakes is no longer enough – you will need to find other ways to deal with the threat.
This includes establishing “safe words” with friends and family and examining what you see online.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
