Over the past few years, deepfakes have taken the internet by storm.
This intriguing technology has a lot of fun and creative applications but can also be used maliciously.
So, how should you use deepfakes, and in what ways are they misused?
Image Credit: Edward Webb/Flickr
The Sophistication of Deepfakes
Today, deepfakes can be very convincing.
But let’s start by discussing how deepfakes are used harmlessly.
Many use deepfake apps in the privacy of their home for nothing more than amusement.
For example, you might want to see what you look like as Harry Potter or Iron Man.
Wombo and Reface are just two examples of the many deepfake apps you could install today.
Deepfake technology can also have educational applications.
While this may not appeal to everyone, it certainly speaks to the potential of this technology.
Deepfakes could also be used to engage students more effectively.
The same technique could be applied in museums and other educational centers to make learning much more interesting.
On top of this, deepfakes could be a solid alternative to audio dubbing on movies and television shows.
We’ll run through a quick tutorial of Reface, a deepfake smartphone app for Android and iOS.
Using Reface, it’s possible for you to make deepfake videos super quickly and free of charge.
Firstly, you’ll need to select one of the template videos provided by the app.
We chose a montage of the Addams Family’s Morticia.
Then, you’ll need to select whose face you want to use in the video.
In this case, we’re using actress Jennifer Lawrence.
you’ve got the option to crop the image to your liking and then upload it.
Then, in a matter of seconds, Reface will create your deepfake video.
Because Reface is a super quick option for generating deepfakes, you will not receive the most high-end results.
But it’s a fun app if you want to get creative.
Some online creators use deepfakes to make comical and satirical videos aimed at celebrities or political figures.
Depending on the sophistication of the deepfake, such videos may or may not be taken seriously.
Let’s take a look at fake news to understand this further.
Deepfakes can also be used inidentity theft.
For example, a cybercriminal may impersonate a deceased individual to benefit financially.
Such crimes can go on for many years if unnoticed.
These malicious uses of deepfakes call into question whether this technology needs to be regulated.
Because of this, governments and other authoritative bodies are behind on the regulatory element of these technologies.
While some countries and U.S states have developed laws for deepfake usage, other nations have not done so.
But we may see this change in the coming years.
But this technology can and is being misused to spread misinformation, steal data, or benefit financially.
And, with deepfakes becoming more convincing over time, their usefulness in illicit dealings is becoming increasingly apparent.
