Spot DeepFake Video Checklist
Deepfake is a AI generated video and image manipulation method to create fake videos which are very convincing. Designed to intentionally mislead and spread misinformation. The technology can also create entirely fictional photos from scratch and create voice skins / clones.
So what is deepfake? Really it’s the new version to ‘Photoshopping’ for the 21st century. Using a form of artificial intelligence (AI) called deep learning to make images for fake events so its name evolved as deepfake.
There is so much fake news shared on social media these days but the new trend of deepfake videos can be very realistic and understandably very believable so help spread of misinformation. Social media and messaging sites compress videos to make them quicker and easier to share, this removes may critical clues.
Because of the damage these fake videos can have there has been a challenge set to identify fakes. The Deepfake Detection Challenge (DFDC) launched by Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook.
The impact on people with the use of deepfakes, along with other fake news, is the creation of a zero-trust society. No one will know what to trust so will no longer bother to try to distinguish truth from fake news.
Spot DeepFake Video Checklist
How are Deepfake videos made?
Firstly you need to run thousands of face shots of the two people into a AI algorithm called an encoder. The encoder learns and identifies similarities between the faces by reducing them to shared common features, and compressing them.
Then a second AI algorithm called a decoder recovers the faces from the compressed images. Then one decoder recovers the face, and another decoder to recover the other.
Swapping faces is as simple as feeding encoded images into the “wrong” decoder.
This is an amazing example of Deep fake in Star Wars of Princess Leia in Rogue One.
Tom Cruise Deepfakes on TikTok
Chris Ume Visual effects specialist created a convincing videos with VFX and CGI. They were posted on his TikTok account deeptomcruise to show what is possible.
TikTok have actually banned manipulated content back in August to protect its platform against misinformation. They have said that parodies such as Ume’s don’t count so still live.
@deeptomcruise And bubblegum?!
♬ original sound – Tom
SIFT method
Sift method is about sorting truth from fiction.
University of Oregon: The SIFT Method: Evaluate Information in a Digital World (Infographic)
Stop: Stop, think and research before liking, commenting or sharing.
Investigate: Investigate into the source
Find: Search for trusted reporting or analysis on the information in front of you
Trace: Trace the quote, quote, or media back to the original source.
Related Checklists
Spot DeepFake Video Checklist
Designed to intentionally mislead and spread misinformation.
Recognise Fake News Checklist
Prevent being duped by false facts and sharing fake news.
