Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently aired his concerns over the increasing prevalence of ‘deepfakes’, a digital forgery technology that uses artificial intelligence to manipulate audios and videos. This technology’s rise poses a serious threat to the information ecosystem as it is difficult for an average viewer to distinguish between real and manipulated media. Hence, it is crucial to equip ourselves with skills to spot these misleading content. Here are 10 ways to help you identify fake audios and videos:
1. Inconsistencies in appearances: Deepfakes can be identified by an inconsistent lighting or odd shadows throughout the video. Also, mismatched necks and faces or disagreeing skin tones could signify manipulation.
2. Lip-sync: In a deepfake, the person’s lip movements may not align with the audio. A mismatch in audio and visual synchronization could potentially expose a manipulated video.
3. Blinking patterns: A deepfake may struggle to reflect the natural blinking pattern of humans. Watch out for unnatural blinking or a complete absence of it.
4. Image distortion: Deepfake technology can leave videos unusually blurry or showcase flickers and changes in resolution.
5. Uncommon facial movements: If the facial expressions seem abnormal or out of context, it might be a deepfake.
6. Audio Quality: Anomalies in audio, such as background noise, unusual echoes, or tonal variations, can indicate a manipulated audio.
7. Metadata: Checking the source and metadata of a video or audio file can provide clues to forgery. If the metadata is missing or the source seems unreliable, it’s worth questioning the authenticity.
8. Fact-checking: Cross check the information with multiple reliable sources. One simple Google search can save one from consuming false information.
9. Using Technology: Some platforms offer tools to detect deepfakes. These AI-based algorithms are designed to detect anomalies that a human eye might miss.
10. Trust your instincts: Often, our instinct alerts us when something seems off. If a video or audio appears ‘too good to be true’, rely on your instinct and cross verify it.
Deepfakes threaten to upend the notion of seeing is believing. To counter this, PM Modi’s call to awareness about the technology’s misuse is timely. It reminds us to authenticate the media we consume and to strive for responsible content dissemination.
