Recent developments in computer technology have allowed for the creation of so-called deepfakes. These are videos or pictures that seem completely real, but are actually fabricated or heavily manipulated. A popular way to create a fake video is through what’s called as “machine learning.”
With machine learning, computers can learn how to do new things by looking at examples of something done before. In this case, the example is usually a real video or picture. The software then uses those pieces to make its own version or copy of the material.
Because it has seen lots of instances of people saying or doing certain things, it learns how to imitate that behavior when creating your own content.
Deepfakes have become very common due to the ease with which they can be created. Even someone who has never used a computer before can produce some incredible results.
How do I create a deepfake?
The first step in creating your own fake videos is figuring out how to use software that manipulates pictures or video clips. This software usually has you upload or grab an image, then it changes some aspects of the picture.
The most common transformations are changing the color, adding text, or altering a body part like a face or hand. Some even add special effects such as making things seem sharper or blurrier.
There are many free and paid applications that can be used for this, so no matter what budget you have, there’s something out there for you! There are also websites and apps that offer up transforming images, so look around those too.
Now that you have your base layer, next you need to find someone else’s photo or video and match or blend into it! Most sites will have you log onto their site using their application service provider (APS) account, which is a third party website that hosts accounts for them.
These APSs typically set up a monthly subscription depending on how much you pay per month, but they are totally worth it because you get fast server speed and limitless resources. Your files go through very secure networks so people cannot tell it isn’t real.
Who has created deepfakes?
Recent revelations show that there are people who have access to highly-specialized computer software that can take any kind of image or video material and create fake content within it. This includes creating whole new videos, as well as replacing parts of an existing video with faked content.
This technology is not only able to digitally alter images and videos but also sounds. Therefore, this term has been coined ‘deep faking’. It is very difficult to tell whether something has been doctored because it looks so real!
These digital manipulations do not disappear into the background like normal editing would. They are clearly seen everywhere you look. Technically, even someone watching the film may be fooled at times if the manipulated part is discretely embedded in the footage.
Deep fakery comes with its own set of rules. For example, when embedding content that was not already in the source media, the edited version will usually stand out more than the original. People will likely notice that something is off about the way the content matches up with the rest of the media surrounding it.
There are some things we can assume are almost always false though. For instance, most deep fakes contain significant amounts of sex. A lot of these seem to focus on either porn stars or high profile individuals. These are typically targeted at young audiences and therefore intended to spread misinformation.
Whether intentional or not, deep fakes often contribute heavily to online harassment.
What are the challenges?
Recent developments of computer software that can create fake videos or images have come under scrutiny. These so-called “deepfakes” lie outside of traditional video editing, where only certain features like changing angles or adding background music is possible.
With deepfakes, every element of the image or video — including people’s faces — are completely artificial. This has led some to question whether they violate an individual’s right to privacy or if they constitute illegal pornography.
Other critics say it raises ethical questions about how we as individuals relate to each other due to potential exposure online. Technology brings new opportunities, but it also exposes us to new risks.
It’s important to note that while most experts agree that creating a false, doctored video violates copyright laws, there is not universal agreement about what constitutes an invasion of someone’s personal space.
Furthermore, even if you believe something crosses the line into obscene material, there is little you can do to take legal action. In fact, many governments are developing automatic systems to detect deepfakes and launch criminal investigations!
Legal guidelines will likely be up in the air for years to come. However, one thing is clear: Technological changes bring both benefits and risk, and we must all be aware of them.
Do they hold any truth?
Recent reports of allegedly manipulated videos are very concerning, but there is one major problem — they do not actually work!
There have been many claims that people have made about how easy it is to create fake videos or what kind of software can be used to manipulate someone’s speech or picture.
However, none of these things exist yet so why would anyone want to use them? Even if you could find such software, who would legally allow you to use it?
You would need permission from every person in the video and/or photo to use their image or voice, which seems like an unrealistic goal.
That being said, even though deepfakes don’t exist just yet there are ways to learn how to make your own! You will still need some basic computer skills, of course, but this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun experimenting and creating cool content.
What can we do to prevent deepfakes?
Recent developments have people all around the world talking about how serious this situation has become. Technology is constantly advancing, so what was possible two years ago is now possible at a much more advanced level.
Deepfakes come with very significant risks that go beyond just feeling bad for someone else’s misfortune. They also pose an existential threat to our society as we know it.
If you ever feel like someone has manipulated you or your perception of events through media, then there are some easy ways to tell if a video is fake.
Firstly, you should never believe anything that seems too extreme or outrageous. If something sounds totally off the wall, chances are it is false.
What are the consequences?
Recent developments of computer software that can create fake, realistic videos or pictures have raised significant concerns. These so-called “deepfakes” allow users to add in their own faces, individual features, and even voices to create completely phony content.
Because this technology is relatively new, there are few clear guidelines about what goes into a deepfake and how people use it for malicious purposes. YouTube has tried to take action by limiting some options, but there is still room for abuse.
There are already many examples of harmful uses of deepfakes. Some politicians and celebrities have had embarrassing false messages spread across social media sites and platforms. More sinister examples include creating faked medical documents or records to impersonate someone else or spreading hateful propaganda.
Since most humans find it difficult to tell real from made-up images, these distortions can go unnoticed and spread easily. This increases the chances of people believing the lie over the truth!
This could be particularly damaging when the lies are about something important like politics or religion. It also raises questions about whether we as individuals will be able to accurately determine if an image is authentic or not. As with any tool, there must be clear rules about when you can use it and for what purpose.
Does this mean all my videos and photos are fake?
Yes, unfortunately it does! Today’s technology makes it possible to create fakes that look so realistic you would have no way of telling them from the real thing. This is bad news for two reasons.
First, if you invested time in creating an authentic video or photo, then it has been ruined. It may be difficult to convince people that what they saw before was actually true.
Second, malicious individuals can now spread lies about anyone – including you. People will believe false things about you and you will never get the chance to correct those stories.
This article will go into more detail about how deepfakes work, what tools you need to make one, and some ways to identify a fake.
What should I do?
Recent developments of “deepfakes” have people all over the world talking. Many wonder what we can actually do with this new technology, though!
The term deepfake comes from the phrase computer-generated fake videos or images. These are typically referred to as CGVIs or CGFs for short. People have made CGVI/CGFs using software programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Gimp.
With these programs, you can easily edit pictures and video files so that they seem more realistic than before. For example, if someone took a picture of you at a party, you could use software to make it look like there was another person next to you with them having a conversation with each other. This would be a very clever way to cheat in school or workplace photos!
CGVIS have become much easier to create recently due to the availability of powerful computers and AI (artificial intelligence) software.
