Deepfake technology has blurred the lines between reality and the artificial, raising concerns about the misuse of this powerful tool. As we find ourselves in the midst of a pivotal year for global democracy, with elections taking place in over 60 countries (according to NPR), the convergence of advanced AI and political processes has created a threat to the integrity of democratic institutions.
The ability to create hyper-realistic videos and audio recordings that easily deceive the average person has the potential to manipulate public opinion, spread misinformation and undermine trust. Not only is this true with elections, but also in the workplace. For example, malicious actors could use deepfakes to impersonate executives and authorize fraudulent transactions.
Urgent attention and the implementation of safeguards to protect ourselves from the insidious effects of deepfakes is needed.
That said, the pace of technological advancement makes it difficult to stay ahead of the curve, as new and more sophisticated deepfake techniques emerge constantly. Adding to that, the global nature of the problem requires cooperation and collaboration to develop effective countermeasures.
But that is easier said than done especially with organizations lacking confidence in their fight against deepfakes. In fact, according to IRONSCALES report, “Deepfakes: Assessing Organizational Readiness in the Face of This Emerging Cyber Threat,” despite near-ubiquitous concern surrounding the security implications of deepfakes, less than half of respondents felt very confident about their organization’s ability to defend against deepfake-enabled attacks.