This year, deepfake videos and audio have increased in number, marking a new era of disinformation. As hyper-realistic but fake videos proliferate, it's important that people learn how to spot them, along with identifying traditional fake social media posts.
Some of the recent deepfake incidents include fake videos of GMA anchors Ivan Mayrina and Susan Enriquez promoting a free 'Mama Mary necklace,' Maria Ressa endorsing Bitcoin, and celebrities such as Vilma Santos and Lucy Torres which promotes a fake cure for diabetes. Even President Bongbong Marcos has been the target of fake audio ordering a military attack and a deepfake video accusing him of drug use.
Narito ang ilang aral na pwede nating makuha mula sa mga deepfake na ito:
- Public Figures are targeted: Celebrities, journalists, and political leaders are often targeted subject of deepfakes because of their influence on the public.
- Profit-Driven: Some deepfake videos are created to trick people by of introducing fake products or investments using well-known personalities.
- Politicized Purpose: Deepfakes can also be used to damage the reputation of public officials or create confusion, such as fake Marcos audio.
How to Identify a Deepfake:
- Unusual Statement: When a prominent personality promotes something that is not you expect, such as cryptocurrency or free products, check with other trusted sources such as their official social media accounts or news sites.
- Emotional Reaction: When a video is too sensational or evokes strong emotions, i -double check its authenticity using credible sources.
- Symptoms: Often, there are mismatched parts of the subject's face in deepfake videos , such as overly smooth or wrinkled skin, improper shadow placement, strange sparkles in glasses, or reflections in the eyes. Also pay attention to facial hair, blinking patterns, and lip movements, as they often don't match the audio.
Learning to Identify Deepfakes
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab launched the **Detect Fakes** project, where people can practice recognizing deepfakes through subtle signs of manipulation. According to MIT researchers, people can get better at identifying fake videos with practice.
The Bigger Problem
Generative AI, the technology behind deepfakes, is developing rapidly. The signs we look for today in deepfakes may change as technology improves. Experts believe that human intuition supported by AI tools such as the open-source **DeepFake-o-meter** is important to detect future deepfakes.
Election Threat
As the 2025 Philippine midterm elections approach, being on the lookout for deepfakes is important. Although the use of deepfakes is not yet widespread in the 2024 U.S. elections, it remains a major threat, especially in countries like Russia and China that use AI to spread disinformation.
Deepfake audio, in particular, is a growing problem because it is cheaper and easier to produce than video. For example, fake robocalls using the voice of U.S. President Joe Biden to deceive U.S. voters. Democratic primaries.
Be Alert
Defining deepfakes isn't just about technical flaws; understanding the broader narrative is also important. Deepfakes are most effective when they fit into a larger story, so it's important to be informed and fact check the content, especially in fast-changing events like the election.
By learning how to recognize deepfakes and understanding the goals behind them, we can better protect ourselves from the misinformation caused by this emerging technology.
