Deepfake or synthetic media is the manipulation of visuals and audios using AI generated technology to create convincing but false information. This synthetic media is used to alter a person’s face, video and even voice and replace it with someone else to spread malign and disinformation.
Although, the issue of Deepfake is not new with its history rooted in the film industry and pornography spanning several decades, it is wielding more power with the progress in technology.
This AI generated disinformation is a growing societal concern. Disinformation is fueling tensions in an already fragile society, leading to distrust and even to the extent of violence. In some countries, Deepfake is one factor determining the outcome of elections. Dangerously, women are becoming victims of deepfake where their faces can be manipulated for pornographic content.
The Issue of deepfake is paving way to a zero trust society where we can no longer differentiate between real, truth and the fake. Worse, users are no longer bothered to try to unearth the truth.
Another concern, is the reverse impact of deepfake. It is not just manipulation of truth, but deepfake is giving way to truth manipulating with the fake. It has reversed trajectories where the powers that be can discount the truth and blame it on deepfakes. It is now easier for people to deny the truth and credit it entirely to Deepfakes.
And as technology advances to unimaginable levels, it is getting harder to detect Deepfakes.
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Last month, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced that it is working on decisive measures to combat Deepfakes. The Minister of MeitY, Ashwini Vaishnaw, called attention to the urgent need of strengthening rules and regulations against the spread of deepfakes. The drafted regulations will be based on four key pillars: detection of deepfakes, prevention of the deepfakes, building of grievance and reporting mechanism, and raising awareness
For a state like Nagaland that has just transitioned to the world of technology, with social media users increasing even in its remote ruralities and among the unlettered, the emergence of deepfake in our part of the world is a cause of concern. It is decimating real knowledge, and creating an even more ignorant community that is still reeling under lack of quality education or civilization.
As one awaits AI to develop reliable detection tools against Deepfakes, and the Ministry to formulate regulations, State machineries in Nagaland also needs to enforce its technology units such as its IT department, Science and Technology, and Cyber Crime unit to combat the issue of deepfake. Media literacy must be prioritized to help users identify and be aware of misleading and false content.
