Distorted Realities: A Deep Dive into the Dangers of Deepfakes

Image Source- Times Now

Last week, on Republic Day, a Deepfake video of the idol of Lord Ram went viral, drawing a significant crowd to the recently inaugrated temple. The video showcased the idol animated with a smiling expression and moving eyes and face. Previously, Deepfakes of actress Rashmika Mandanna and dancer Nora Fatehi have also surfaced on the internet.

This new technology can be really horrifying, distorting the reality. Deepfakes can be a new way of defaming an individual. It may also turn worse than explicitly morphing a (woman's) photo to violate someone's modesty or blackmail them. 

So how does Deepfakes work? Deepfakes employ deep learning, specifically deep neural networks, to manipulate images or videos convincingly. By training on extensive datasets of the target person, these models learn facial features, expressions, and gestures. Utilizing generative models, like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), the deepfake system then synthesizes content that mimics the target's apperance and behavior. Refinement techniques further enhance realism, creating deepfake videos or audio recordings.

As of yet, 3 deepfake videos have gone viral (which I know of) and there would be a lot many which might have been generated. In my opinion, this is no less than cyber terrorism and can grow even worse with time. 

It becomes even more concerning that people believed this deepfake video, especially of Lord Ram. How is it possible that a idol made out of stone can even move? This highlights the concern of blind faith many people have and no knowledge of technology. With chnaging times, schools and colleges need to update their syllabus when it comes to computers and technology and people have to update themselves with every new technology too. If these offenders can even target a God, they can single out and defame any human.

How to recognize if it is a deepfake video?

• Unusual facial expressions: Look for unnatural facial expressions that dont match the context of the video.
• Unusual eye movements: Pay attention to the eyes, as deepfake algorithms might struggle to replicate natural eye movements. Look for blinking patterns and gaze direction.
• Mismatched lip sync: Check if the lip movements sync appropriately with the audio. Inaccurate lip syncing may indicate manipulation.
• Blurry edges: Examine the edges of the person's face or body for blurriness and pixelation which may be indicative of a deepfake.
• Inconsistent lighting and shadows: Deepfake videos may exhibit inconsistencies in lighting and shadows compared to the background or other elements in the scene.
• Unnatural head movements: Observe for any abrupt or unnatural head movements that seem out of place.
• Contextual anomalies: Assess whether the person's actions or statements align with the expected context. Deepfakes may introduce inconsistencies in behavior or language.
• Comapre with authentic content: If possible, compare the video with known, authentic content of the person in question. Look for consistent behavior and visual characteristics.
• Use deepfake detection tools: Though not foolproof, deepfake detection tools have been developed. A few include Sentinel, Intel's Real-Time Deepfake Detector, and WeVerify.
• Verify the source: Confirm the source of the video. Deepfakes are often circulated on less reputable platforms. Check if the video comes from the person's official social media account or any credible source, like national news channel.

Though we can not control someone else's criminal actions, there are some precautions one can take to avoid being a victim of Deepfakes. 

• Do not let any stranger (or a person you do not trust) to click your photos or videos: These photos or videos may get used in deepfakes or obscene ways. I have seen reels on Instagram where photographers approach random people and ask if they can click their photos, which get included in the reel. Either the photographers or any viewer can manipulate the photos, for which the person will have to pay a heavy price. Many celebrities or commoners often get victim of being clicked without their knowledge or consent. There have been a few instances where someone approached me for photos and I had to oblige with consequences of saying a no (many males still take it upon their ego and make the life of a girl hell or even rape/murder/attack her with acid) and it still worries me, years later, if those photos would have been morphed or used in illegal ways. 
• Limit Personal Information: Be mindful of the personal information you share online. Restrict access to details that could be exploited in creating convincing deepfakes. How much you can, avoid sharing information about your family, income, dating life or relationships, and even travel tickets (QR can be used for wrong intentions).
• Use privacy settings: Adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts to control who can view and share your content. If you have a private profile, actually keep it private and don't allow someone you do not know or trust. If possible, parents can avoid posting photos of their young children, as pedophiles use social media too. Never post in real-time when you are out of your house. Post any pics/videos if you want only when you are back home. It may not be used for Deepfakes, but this can reduce chances of being kidnapped while you are at that location or your house being robbed when you are away. Limiting access reduces the risk of someone collecting data for malicious purposes. 
• Report suspected Deepfakes: If you come across a video you think is a deepfake, report it to the social media platform and other concerned authorities. It can help someone else. 
• Stay updated on technology: Keep abreast of advancements in deepfake detection tools and technologies. Awareness of current trends can enhance your ability to identify manipulated content.

While we cannot control someone else's malicious actions, we can take some precautions to reduce being the risk of Deepfakes (and any other cybercrime) and help others too in the process by making them aware of the technology, trends and precautions and teach our successive generations to nt engage in such criminal activities.