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Fake News: Deepfakes

Fake News: the history, hysteria, and hype – and how to see through the subterfuge.

Deepfakes: The Future of Fake News?

We (society, the government, social media companies, etc.) were clearly not prepared for the onslaught of fake news during the 2016 election. Since then, prevention and identification techniques have improved and become more accessible. However, fake news continues to evolve, and the newest threat might be deepfakes.

Deepfakes are essentially videos, images, or audio that are manipulated by software or artificial intelligence to produce media that appear to be real.

Types of Deepfakes

Deepfakes come in many different forms. Here are two common examples:

  1. They can make Person A’s face appear on Person B’s body. [Example (gif): Amy Adams (original clip on the left) is modified to have the face of actor Nicolas Cage (edited clip on the right).]
  2. They can use existing footage of Person A, retaining and manipulating it, but use the voice of Person B. [Example (YouTube video): PSA about fake news/ deepfakes from Jordan Peele “and” Barack Obama.]

Cheap fakes (also known as dump fakes and shallow fakes) are related to deepfakes, but they involve slightly less sophisticated video manipulations. However, this does not diminish their impact.

A perfect example of cheap fakes (and how dangerous they can be) is 2019's viral video of Nancy Pelosi that was deliberately slowed down to make her sound drunk.

Additional reading on this video:

Understanding Deepfakes

The idea of deepfakes has been around for a number of years. Similar techniques and technologies have especially been used in Hollywood.

  • In the 1994 movie Forrest Gump, footage of Presidents Kennedy and Nixon was altered to make it appear like the two presidents were talking with Forrest (played by Tom Hanks).
  • During production of the movie Gladiator, which was released in 2000, actor Oliver Reed died. To finish his scenes, filmmakers put a CGI version of Reed’s head onto a body double.
  • To finish scenes of the late Paul Walker for the 2015 movie Furious 7, filmmakers used his brother and digitally inserted a composite of his face.
  • 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, took advantage of this technology to create digital versions of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing).
  • In 2019, it was announced that a CGI version of actor James Dean (who died in 1955) had been cast in an upcoming independent film about the Vietnam War. The filmmakers acquired the rights to Dean's digital likeness from his family. The casting news sparked quite the outcry.

How to Spot Deepfakes

The techniques to spot deepfakes are similar to the ones used to spot fake news.

When it comes to detecting deepfake videos BuzzFeed offers these 5 tips:

  1. Don't jump to conclusions
  2. Consider the source
  3. Check where else it is (and isn't) online
  4. Inspect the mouth
  5. Slow it down

Companies have also created (or are in the process of creating) technology, like software, AI, etc., to help detect deepfakes, but there are concerns that they will never be enough.

Google News Feed: Staying Update to Date

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Deepfakes: Dangerous or Humorous?

The implications of deepfakes have many people worried. Deepfakes are getting better, more real, and easier to make.

Currently, deepfakes have not been extensively weaponized, especially in politics, though there are instances where they have been. However, the threat is there.

Browse the sources below to learn more.

Right now, the creators of deepfakes seem to be primarily content with using the technology for fun - like putting Nicholas Cage in as many movies as possible.

The Streaming Wars Roundtable (a deepfake example)

A roundtable discussion "featuring" Robert Downey Jr., George Lucas, Tom Cruise, Ewan McGregor, and Jeff Goldblum.

  • An article explaining a little about the video is available on The Verge.

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Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.