Social media and online news sites are awash with video and audio clips to increase interest and add an element of dynamism to the content. But the pertinent question today is, “Can we believe everything we see and hear?”

Deepfake technology, a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning with digitally manipulated images and/or sounds, is a growing reality. While the technology was created for benevolent purposes, like anything else, it has the potential to be misused by those with malicious intentions. Just a couple of years back, the UAE was hit with a heist that cost a Dubai-based company over $200 Million. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential misuse of deepfake technology. Are other economies, especially the ones emerging to be in the bigger league, and their businesses prepared for this threat?

Understanding Deepfake Technology

Deepfake technology relies on advanced AI algorithms called Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). These networks consist of two competing AI models: one that creates fake images or videos and another that tries to detect them. The continuous competition between these models results in deepfakes that become increasingly realistic and difficult to distinguish from genuine content.

What makes deepfakes particularly alarming is their uncanny ability to seamlessly replicate voices and facial expressions, blurring the line between reality and deception. As the technology becomes more accessible, the tools to create convincing deepfakes are no longer the exclusive domain of expert programmers. Open-source deepfake software allows anyone with a computer and an internet connection to generate deceptive content, amplifying the risk of misuse. This calls for a heightened level of caution and scrutiny in our digital interactions.

Innocent Beginnings

Deepfake uses existing images, video, and audio along with AI and Machine Learning to create highly realistic, digitally manipulated clips depicting people saying things they have not said. It is also the technology behind many filters on social media that enable swapping faces and other seemingly harmless and fun elements. It uses facial mapping and deep learning to mimic features, movements, sounds, and more. It also looks highly realistic.

It’s important to note that deepfake technology was also developed with noble intentions. The technology was used to great effect in David Beckham’s Malaria awareness campaign in 2019, where he appeared to speak nine different languages, sparking a global conversation. Deepfake audio is also employed to make dubbing look more realistic in movies and TV programs in various countries around the world. These instances demonstrate the positive potential of the technology. However, it’s crucial to remain vigilant, as there is also significant potential for malicious use.

Emerging Ethical Concerns

While deepfake technology has been leveraged for entertainment and education, it has also raised ethical concerns. The technology has been widely misused to create deceptive content, including fake interviews, fabricated political speeches, and even fraudulent endorsements by celebrities.

In some cases, deepfakes have been used to impersonate executives, leading to financial fraud and reputational damage. One of the most infamous examples includes the synthetic voice scam, where criminals cloned a CEO’s voice to authorize a fraudulent transaction, resulting in a multi-million-dollar loss.

Combination Threats

Fake voice and video clips have severe political implications but also affect businesses. The heist in Dubai is a good example of this. It highlights how this type of attack can be expected to be carried out – the fake voice call was used to add validity to emails that had already been sent, making the entire transaction seem more credible.

While most people now know not to click on a link in a suspicious email, deepfake can be used to add an element of doubt to this. If we receive an email, followed by a phone call to verify its authenticity, it lends credence and removes some suspicion. Deepfakes can also extract more information from people through the phone, which one believes is more secure than email trails.

Political and National Security Risks

Beyond financial fraud, deepfakes significantly risk political stability and national security. Manipulated videos of world leaders making inflammatory statements could lead to diplomatic tensions or conflicts. Similarly, deepfake-generated misinformation campaigns can be weaponized to manipulate public opinion, sway elections, and incite unrest.

Law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity firms are already witnessing an increase in deepfake scams, making it crucial to develop technological solutions and policies to counter these threats.

Defending Against the Threat

Unfortunately, no silver bullet technology enables organizations to protect themselves from attacks using deepfake technology. The same is true of phishing – this threat is decades old and is still difficult to defend against without addressing the human element. There are video authentication tools available that can be used to give a confidence rating in the authenticity of a video – AI is not perfect, and often, there are traces that can be identified, but this is not a foolproof solution and cannot be applied to every video or voice clip.

Technological Solutions

To combat the deepfake threat, researchers and cybersecurity companies are developing AI-driven detection tools that analyze digital fingerprints of video and audio clips to identify inconsistencies. Blockchain-based authentication is another promising approach, enabling the verification of original content by securing digital media at the source.

Social media platforms and online news agencies are also taking steps to curb the spread of deepfake content by flagging suspicious material and incorporating AI-driven content moderation tools.

Corporate Safeguards

For businesses, adopting a multi-layered security approach is essential. Organizations must:

– Implement multi-factor authentication to prevent deepfake-driven impersonation attacks.

– Establish stringent internal verification processes for financial transactions.

– Train employees on recognizing potential deepfake threats.

– Work closely with cybersecurity firms to update their security measures against emerging threats.

Education and Awareness

Education needs to form the crux of any cyber-defense strategy and deepfakes only add to this requirement. Processes must also be addressed to ensure that those who are dealing with security protocols prevent a repeat of the Dubai heist. There should be no exceptions regarding compliance and due diligence, especially in the political and financial services sectors, where the risk of these types of attacks is higher.

Above all, there must be a healthy dose of skepticism around what we see and hear, especially on social media. Fake news is a real issue; the only way to defend against it is to verify. The same is true of deepfake threats. When in doubt, always check and verify every user’s authenticity.

Looking Ahead

The war against deepfakes is an ongoing battle. As AI technology evolves, so too will the sophistication of deepfake content. While the risks are significant, it’s crucial to take proactive measures and invest in technological advancements to mitigate the dangers. Governments, businesses, and individuals must collaborate to develop regulations, enhance digital literacy, and invest in AI detection tools to stay ahead of cybercriminals.

By staying informed and vigilant, we can create a safer digital environment, ensuring that deepfake technology is used ethically and responsibly while protecting against misuse.

Kumar Vaibhav – Lead Solution Architect