DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY: CONCERNS AND MEASURES TAKEN!

Deepfakes are a compilation of artificial images and audio out together with machine-learning algorithms to spread misinformation and replace a real person’s appearance, voice, or both with similar artificial likenesses or voices. It can create people saying and doing things they did not say or do.

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. The videos were doctored with a technique known as face-swapping. The user “Deepfakes” replaced real faces with celebrity faces. Deepfake technology is now being used for nefarious purposes like scams and hoaxes, celebrity pornography, election manipulation, social engineering, automated disinformation attacks, identity theft, and financial fraud.

Deepfake technology has been used to impersonate former U.S. President Barack Obama and Donald Trump, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Hollywood celebrity Tom Cruise. China’s new rule aims to combat the use of deepfake for spreading disinformation.

What is China’s new policy to curb deepfakes?

The policy requires deep synthesis service providers and users to ensure that any doctored content using the technology is explicitly labelled and can be traced back to its source. The regulation also mandates people using technology to edit someone’s image or voice, to notify and take the consent of the person in question. When reposting news made by the technology, the source can only be from the government-approved list of news outlets. Seep synthesis service providers must also abide by local laws, respect ethics, and maintain the “correct political direction and correct public opinion orientation”.

What are other countries doing to combat deepfakes?

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 Twitter to take measures in countering 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 as much as 6% of their annual global turnover, according to the updated Code.

In July, last year, the U.S. introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to counter deepfake technology.

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.

Does this technology disrupt the right to privacy?

While Canada does not have any regulations to tackle deepfakes, it is in a unique position to lead the initiative to counter deepfakes. Within Canada, some of the most cutting-edge AI research is being conducted by the government with a number of domestic and foreign actors . furthermore, Canada is a member and leader in many related multilateral initiatives like the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, and the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. It can use these forums to coordinate with global and domestic actors to create deepfakes policy in different areas.

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