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Sometimes, you can easily spot a deepfake. They might have a weird delay in sound or something that’s just off about their facial movements. But, as deepfakes become more realistic and accessible, it opens up potential problems. Now, members of Congress want to step in before matters get worse. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY) has introduced the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act in the House, with the aim of combatting “the spread of disinformation through restrictions on deep-fake video alteration technology.” The bill comes with the rise of the new technology and as the proliferation of internet content impacts the thoughts of millions. Recently, a deepfake of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made rounds on Instagram. The video’s caption says, “Mark Zuckerberg reveals the truth about Facebook and who really owns the future.” The deepfake tested Facebook’s previous decision to keep up an altered video of Nancy Pelosi. Many were curious to see if Facebook would remove the Zuckerberg...
Addressing the talent gap is essential to mitigating cybersecurity risks effectively. The United States has seen a wave of cybersecurity attacks over the years. In 2024, The Guardian reported that Volt Typhoon, a Chinese hacking group, infiltrated the networks of critical infrastructure organizations, including aviation, rail, mass transit, highways, maritime, pipelines, water, and sewage systems. U.S. intelligence revealed that the group had maintained access to some victim IT environments for over five years. Among the high-profile incidents, MGM Resorts faced a staggering $100 million loss. They were hit with cybersecurity attacks, leading them to shut down their systems in September 2023 “to mitigate risk to customer information,” according to NBC News. This meant workers could not access company emails, slot machines were inaccessible, and some customers could no longer enter their hotel rooms. Despite these measures, the hackers were still able to retrieve sensitive...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly blurred the line between truth and fiction. For example, deepfake technology is the creation of a video, audio, or image via machine learning that draws inspiration from a real person, as the U.S. Government Accountability Officer mentions. Examples of this include a fake Kamala Harris presidential campaign video that Elon Musk shared in July 2024 with his millions of followers on X. The footage included Harris labeling herself as a “DEI hire” and sharing negative remarks about President Joe Biden. “I, Kamala Harris, am your Democrat candidate for president because Joe Biden finally exposed his senility at the debate,” she said in the altered clip. The video amassed 131 million views, according to NBC News. Notably, it violated Musk’s own policies for X—acquired by him in 2022—which state, “You may not share synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media that may deceive or confuse people and lead to harm.” Deepfake technologies have...
In recent years, musicians have been pushing for regulations around artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, in February 2024, artists such as Mary J. Blige, Cardi B, 21 Savage, and more signed an open letter in support of the bipartisan bill No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas and Unauthorized Duplications Act (or No AI Fraud Act), which aims to regulate AI deepfakes and AI cloning of both voice and likeness. While the movement against AI deepfakes continues, one artist is using the controversial technology to her advantage. BBC reports that FKA Twigs went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee to say that artists should have ownership over how AI uses their voice and overall likeness in addition to how there is music online that she didn’t create yet it emulates her voice. The British singer revealed that she had created her own deepfake, AI twigs, with the purpose of allowing her to focus on her artistry. “These and...
The catchphrase “fake news,” which sparked amusement during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is no longer a laughing matter. Now Facebook is taking steps to prove it. On Tuesday, the social media giant announced that it will now ban deepfake video content from its site, according to a new policy update. Deepfake video is content altered so adroitly by artificial intelligence algorithms that it falsely convinces the reader of its authenticity. New, enhanced digital manipulation software that superimposes content can give undue credibility to media that was once readily identifiable as false. Since the swift and widespread circulation of false information in social media has an exponential effect for the misinformed and their followers, Facebook’s ban may offer a glimmer of hope. While some applaud Facebook for taking this step, the decision does raise eyebrows. Facebook’s timing is questionable, given that this week’s announcement came just days before a congressional hearing...
People tend to trust videos, assuming that they’re harder to doctor than photographs. However, deepfake technology has proven that to be untrue, and social media platforms now have to wrestle with it. Recently, a deepfake video of Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was uploaded to Instagram. The caption read, “Mark Zuckerberg reveals the truth about Facebook and who really owns the future…” People began to wonder if Facebook would elect to remove the video. However, the company has decided that it will remain on Instagram, as reported by The Verge . “We will treat this content the same way we treat all misinformation on Instagram. If third-party fact-checkers mark it as false, we will filter it from Instagram’s recommendation surfaces like Explore and hashtag pages,” a company spokesperson told The Verge. The Zuckerberg deepfake’s face is slightly muddled, but it does play on some common fears around him and data. “Imagine this for a second: One man, with total control of billions of...