Demystifying Deepfakes: Understanding, Implications, and Safeguards

Deepfakes are a new generation of AI-manufactured, hyper-realistic synthetic media that is rapidly evolving into a disruptive technology with novel ways of harming others. From its initial use in entertainment and advertising, the misuse of deepfake technology will result in revenge porn, cyberstalking, dissemination of disinformation, and political manipulation, especially during elections, causing huge concern about the erosion of trust in social institutions. While deepfake methods are getting improved and more accessible, the urge for measures to be taken against their negative impacts is getting more pressing. This paper presents the dual nature of deepfakes, both potential benefits and risks. While the deepfake technology can protect intellectual property positively, such as enabling the protection system FORGE, it's dangerous applications create outstanding threats. This becomes all the more ominous with tools available that allow people to create fake identities.