‘Deepfake’ video showing Rashmika Mandanna: How to identify fake videos

‘Deepfake’ video showing Rashmika Mandanna: How to identify fake videos

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

• A video that supposedly shows actress Rashmika Mandanna entering an elevator has ignited a firestorm of controversy on the internet. What initially appears as genuine is, in fact, a ‘deepfake’ of the actress.

Deepfake technology:

• Deepfake technology is a method for manipulating videos, images, audio utilizing powerful computers and deep learning.
• It is used to generate fake news and commit financial fraud among other wrongdoings.
• It overlays a digital composite over an already-existing video, picture, or audio; cybercriminals use Artificial Intelligence technology.
• These include pictures, audio or videos that are constructed using deep learning technology, a branch of machine learning where massive amounts of data are fed into a system to create fake content that looks real.

Origin of the Word:

• The term deepfake originated in 2017 when an anonymous Reddit user called himself “Deepfakes.”
• This user manipulated Google’s open-source, deep-learning technology to create and post pornographic videos.

Misuse:

• Deepfake technology is now being used for nefarious purposes like scams and hoaxes, celebrity pornography, election manipulation, social engineering, automated disinformation attacks, identity theft, financial fraud etc.
• Deepfake technology has been used to impersonate notable personalities like former U.S. President Barack Obama and Donald Trump, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, etc.

How to identify a deepfake content?

1. Unnatural eye movements:
   • Deepfake videos often exhibit unnatural eye movements or gaze patterns. In genuine videos, eye movements are typically smooth and coordinated with the person’s speech and actions.
2. Mismatch in colour and lighting
   • Deepfake creators may have difficulty replicating accurate colour tones and lighting conditions.
3. Compare and contrast audio quality:
   • Deepfake videos often use AI-generated audio that may have subtle imperfections.
4. Strange body shape and movements:
   • Deepfakes can sometimes result in unnatural body shapes or movements. For example, limbs may appear too long or short, or the body may move in an unusual or distorted manner.
5. Artificial facial movements:
   • Deepfake software may not always accurately replicate genuine facial expressions.
6. Unnatural Positioning of Facial Features
   • Deepfakes may occasionally exhibit distortions or misalignments in these features, which can be a sign of manipulation.
7. Awkward posture and physique:
   • Deepfakes may struggle to maintain a natural posture or physique.
8. Reverse image search: 
   • One can also take a screenshot of the video and run a reverse image search to check the source and the original video. To do this, go to https://images.google.com/ and click on the camera icon that says ‘Search by image’. One can then upload the screenshot and Google will show you if visuals associated with it are taken from previous videos.

What are other Countries doing to Combat Deepfakes?

1. European Union:
   • The European Union has an updated Code of Practice to stop the spread of disinformation through deepfakes.
   • The revised Code requires tech companies including Google, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter) to take measures to counter deepfakes and fake accounts on their platforms.
   • They have six months to implement their measures once they have signed up to the Code.
   • If found non-compliant, these companies can face fines of as much as 6% of their annual global turnover, according to the updated Code.
   • Introduced in 2018, the Code of Practice on Disinformation brought together for the first time worldwide industry players to commit to counter disinformation.
2. United States:
   • The U.S. introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in countering deepfake technology.
   • The measure directs the DHS to conduct an annual study of deepfakes assess the technology used, track its uses by foreign and domestic entities, and come up with available countermeasures to tackle the same.
   • California and Texas have passed laws that criminalize the publishing and distributing of deepfake videos that intend to influence the outcome of an election. The law in Virginia imposes criminal penalties on the distribution of nonconsensual deepfake pornography.
3. India:
   • In India, however, there are no legal rules against using deepfake technology.
   • However, specific laws can be addressed for misusing the tech, which include Copyright Violation, Defamation and cyber felonies.

Source of this article: Indian Express