Beware of deepfakes : some tips for recognizing them
While artificial intelligence helps us in our daily lives, it can also cause a lot of harm. With AI, more and more deepfakes are emerging and participating in the dissemination of false information. Here are some tips on how to spot them and protect yourself from them.
The word "deepfake" comes from "deep learning" which means deep learning and "fake" which means false. It refers to a technology that uses artificial intelligence to create or modify images, audio or videos in a very realistic way.
In 2022, Limburg's Chris Umé reached the final of the America's Got Talent competition by having members of the jury and the presenter of the show sing thanks to the deepfake.
While deepfakes can be used in an artistic or humorous way, they also facilitate the spread of false information by hijacking the image and words of a public figure, or defraud people by using the voice and face of a celebrity or a member of their entourage.
The quality of the production is sometimes so close to reality that it is difficult to distinguish the true from the false.
How to detect a deepfake?
To identify deepfakes, pay attention to facial movements (no blinking or strange blinking), voice (robotic or out of sync), background (objects that disappear or distort), or inconsistent shadows.
Finally, find out who sent the video or photo. Do some research on the internet to find the source: is the person passing it on reliable? For example, you can perform a reverse searchon Google.
Do you have any doubts? Tools like Sensity can help you spot if a video or photo is fake by analyzing lip movements and abnormalities present.
But above all, you yourself are the source of the transmission of images. It is therefore essential to protect yourself:
- Limit access to your data to prevent your photos or videos from being hijacked by scammers.
- Some artificial intelligence tools ask for permission to use your voice or photos: beware!
- Be critical, educate others about deepfakes, and report suspicious content on social media to protect others.