The developing artificial intelligence technology, deepfake and deep synthesis, have lately been in the spotlight due to increasing usage, bringing their positive possibilities and negative impacts. This technology has risen as a significant point of concern for cybersecurity agencies worldwide, including China’s Cyberspace Administration.
Emerging Regulations in China
In response to the rising use of deep synthesis technology, the Cyberspace Administration of China is introducing new regulations to curb its misuse and disinformation spread. The policy mandates that providers and users of deep synthesis services explicitly label any manipulated content created with this technology and trace it back to the source.
The Concept of Deep Synthesis
Deep synthesis involves using technologies like deep learning and augmented reality to generate text, images, audio, and video to fabricate virtual scenes. A potent and infamous application of this technology is deepfakes — manipulating synthetic media to switch one person’s face or voice with another. As the technology evolves, detecting deepfakes becomes increasingly challenging.
Deepfake Technology: An Overview
Deepfake technology, which manipulates videos, images, audios using high-capacity computers and deep learning algorithms, was coined in 2017 by an anonymous Reddit user. It can overlay a digital composite on existing multimedia, often misused for generating fake news, committing financial fraud, and other malicious activities. Notably, deepfake has been used to impersonate prominent figures such as former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
International Efforts to Combat Deepfakes
To combat the misuse of deepfake technology, various countries are enforcing new legislations and codes:
1. European Union: The EU has updated its Code of Practice to counter the spread of deepfake-driven disinformation. The revised Code requires tech giants like Google, Meta, and Twitter to implement measures against deepfakes and fake accounts on their platforms. Non-compliance can result in substantial fines.
2. United States: The U.S. introduced the Deepfake Task Force Act, directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct an annual deepfake study assessing technological usage, tracking activity by foreign and domestic entities, and identifying potential countermeasures.
Different states, including California and Texas, have criminalized publishing and distributing deepfake videos that could influence election outcomes. Simultaneously, Virginia’s law imposes penalties for nonconsensual deepfake pornography distribution.
3. India: Although India does not have specific laws against deepfake technology, misuse can be addressed under Copyright Violation, Defamation, and other cybercrime laws.
Future Considerations
To mitigate deepfake issues, there needs to be a concerted effort from all media consumers to understand and analyze information encountered. Artificial intelligence-supported technical solutions could be beneficial, though media literacy also needs improving. Convenient and accessible technology solutions are required to detect deep fakes, authenticate media sources, and amplify authoritative voices.
Everyone has a responsibility to critically consume media content online, think before sharing on social media, and contribute to the solution, curbing the menace of deep fakes.