Deep fakes, which are AI-generated media that depict individuals doing or saying things they never did, pose a huge threat to the integrity of information online. However, with the right awareness and tools, spotting deep fake content is possible. Creating awareness around this topic will ensure that more people don’t fall prey to the disinformation provided through these deep fakes. Take a look at the tips provided below to help you spot deep fake content.
Pay attention to inconsistencies
If there are inconsistencies in the movement of the facial expressions such as the mouth movements and eye movements, that is a sign that the content might be altered. Deep Fake technology sometimes struggles with accurately depicting the movements around the eyes and lips due to its artificial nature. If there is inconsistency with the sound in the video for example, the person speaking is moving their lips faster than the voice you’re hearing or if the tone of voice doesn’t match the person speaking then that’s a tell-tale sign that it’s a deep fake.
Take a look at the background
Pay attention to the background, is it blurry or distorted and does it match what’s happening in the foreground. If the background looks out of place, this could suggest that the video may have been tampered with and that the video you are watching might be a deep fake. Keep this in mind the next time you’re scrolling on social media and you come across an Ad.
Who is being featured in the content
If the content being posted seems out of character or outlandish then you need to verify it against a reputable source. You need to consider the source and the context of the content and ask yourself questions related to the post such as, why would that celebrity advertise that product or why would that celebrity need me to buy their course etc. To verify this content you can check out the social media or website of the brand or the celebrity being featured in the content, to confirm whether they are selling what is being advertised or not.
Tools and techniques for verification
There are a few tools and techniques that you can use to verify an Ad’s authenticity. Digital forensics is used to examine the metadata of an Ads files to trace its origin and to check for any alterations. Tools like image analysis can detect inconsistencies or alterations in visuals. Reverse image searching helps in identifying whether an image was taken from another source, this may indicate deceptive practices. You can consult fact-checking websites to verify the claims made in the Ad, to ensure that they are not misleading or false. In addition, using social media monitoring tools will help you in understanding how well the Ad’s are received on social media and that will provide proof of its legitimacy. For online ads, domain analysis tools can be used to investigate the credibility of the website hosting the Ad. Lastly, using critical thinking and having a skeptical approach is always vital in evaluating any advertisement’s authenticity.
By incorporating these tips on how to spot a deep fake, you will be able to protect yourself by not falling prey to these deep fake scams. It is important to stay vigilant and to not click on any links before verifying that the Ad is authentic and that the person or brand being featured in the Ad actually has a connection to the Ad or not. Oftentimes, people succumb to deep fakes because of how realistic they come across and it is important that we keep ourselves up to date with the tools and techniques to verify the Ads origin.
