A deepfake is a video or picture created by using computer software that looks almost indistinguishable from the real deal. Deepfakes have several uses, including movie production, but not all deepfake technology is benign. Deepfake pictures or videos can be used to make politicians and other public figures do or say anything, spreading falsehoods, destroying a company’s reputation, interfering with elections, and altering public health initiatives. In your personal life, hackers can scrape your social media accounts and create a realistic deepfake of you. Then, they can steal your identity or cause harm to your friends and family.
As the technology of deepfakes advances, so will the difficulty of identifying them. Although it isn’t always easy, here are a few things that should raise concern:
Unnatural eye movement
Unnatural facial expressions
Awkward facial feature positioning or body movements
A lack of emotion
Unnatural coloring, teeth, or hair
Blurring or misalignment of any kind
Inconsistent audio and noise
Video that looks unnatural when slowed down
Hashtag discrepancies
Remember, you can’t always spot a deepfake, so always be suspicious. Watch out for unusual or urgent requests. To avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, you should also limit access to your social media accounts.