New research shows an alarming surge in the creation of so-called deepfake videos, with the number online almost doubling in the last nine months. While much of the concern about deepfakes has centred on their use for political purposes, the evidence is that pornography, including revenge and fake celebrity porn, accounts for an overwhelming majority of 95% of the clips.
There are nearly 14,700 deepfake videos — and counting — on the internet, according to a recent tally by a startup that builds technology to spot this kind of AI-manipulated content. And nearly all of them are porn. https://t.co/1RSqck6FPS
— CNN (@CNN) October 8, 2019
Off-the-shelf deepfake software that novices can use isn\’t that good…yet. Making a convincing deepfake still requires hundreds of photos and special skills. Those barriers are getting lower, though.
This technology isn\’t going away, so we need to prepare for a world where deepfakes are commonplace. It would be unwise and impractical to make deepfake software illegal, and there\’s no stopping it spread at this point. What we need to do is build awareness, good judgment, and a healthy sense of scepticism. Always consider the source when viewing a video of someone.
Those worried about deepfakes can probably minimise the risk by posting fewer selfies on publicly accessible social media.