CNTI’s Summary
Deepfakes, a form of synthetic media content that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic depictions of people and events, have proliferated in recent years. There are many questions about how this content affects journalists, fact-based news and mis- and disinformation. In addressing these concerns it is important to consider freedom of expression and safety. Relatedly, policies targeting deepfakes must be clear about what types of content qualify as such. Detection technologies and provenance approaches are being rapidly developed but it is unlikely they can prevent all potential harms by AI-altered content. Additional research should consider (1) what effects deepfakes have on journalism, (2) how content labeling addresses concerns about deepfakes (and what types are most effective), (3) what international standards should be applied to content to confirm its authenticity and (4) how best to teach the public to identify synthetic media.
