Deepfake Technology: Understanding and Regulations

Recently, the Deepfake technology has come into the limelight after a video of an Indian actress went viral on a social media platform, which morphed a girl's face with actress Rashmika Mandanna. In this context, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released an advisory to such firms on November 7, 2023, and reminded them that they legally abide under the IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021, to remove such content from their platforms. In this article, we will throw light on Deepfake Technology: Understanding and Regulations and also cover other aspects of Deepfake Technology.

What is Deepfake Technology?

• In the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deepfake is often in the news, which means Deep Learning and Fake. It is a method in which images, video, and audio are manipulated with the use of powerful computers and deep learning (part of Deep synthesis).

• This is used to commit financial fraud among other wrongdoings and generate fake news.

• This technology has surpassed traditional photo editing techniques.

• It has been used to create manipulated content, such as fake videos and false disaster images.

Origin of Deepfake Technology:

• This term originated in 2017 when an anonymous Reddit user called himself 'Deepfakes'.

• This user manipulated the open source of Google, deep-learning technology to create and post pornographic videos.

Working process of Deepfake Technology:

• Deepfake technology utilizes neural networks to generate realistic synthetic media, specifically generative adversarial networks (GANs).

• GANs consist of two components, i.e.

  1. Generator (Create fake content)

  2. Discriminator (evaluates the authenticity of the generated content)

• In the whole process, the generator produces realistic outputs and the discriminator enhances the ability to differentiate between real and fake content.

Applications and Implications of Deepfake Technology

In this world, there are lots of industries which has used Deepfake Technology, such as:

• Entertainment Industry

• Social Media and Misinformation

• Cybersecurity Threats

• Political Manipulation and Misinformation

Deepfake Technology: Pros & Cons

Every technology has its boon and bane, this concept also applies to the Deepfake Technology, which is as follows:

Pros:

• It is a low-cost video campaign.

• It creates better omnichannel campaigns.

• It also provides a hyper-personalized experience for the customer.

Cons:

• Security & privacy issues

• Lack of trust

• Increase in scams

• Generate fake news

• Create fake video

How to understand the deep fake image or real image

There are many methods to identify that deep fake image or real image, which are as follows:

Unnatural Eye Movements:

• In real video, eye movements are typically coordinated and smooth with the speech and actions of an individual.

• In deepfake videos, there a unnatural eye movements or gaze patterns.

Mismatches in Color and Lighting:

• In the real video, the color and lighting are consistent on the subject’s face and surroundings.

• In the deep fake video, Deepfake creators may have difficulty replicating the accurate lighting conditions and color tones.

Compare and Contrast Audio Quality

• Compared to the real videos, the deepfake videos often use AI-generated audio that may have subtle imperfections.

Strange Body Shape or Movement

• Sometimes, Deepfakes can result in unnatural body shapes or movements.

• For example, limbs may appear too long or short, the body may move in an unusual manner

India’s Stand on Deepfakes:

Existing Laws:

• Presently India relies on pre-existing laws, such as Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act (2000).

• This section may be applicable to some aspects of deepfakes, which include defamation and explicit material dissemination.

Defamation Provision:

• Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 offers punishment for defamation.

• This section can also be applied in deepfake cases.

Personal Data Protection Bill (2022):

• This bill might provide some protection against the misuse of personal data, but it doesn’t address the deepfakes issue.

Presently, India does not have a proper legal framework to fight against the deep fake issues

International Efforts             

European Union (EU):

• The European Union (EU) has updated in Code of Practice on Disinformation, with the purpose of checking the spread of disinformation through deepfakes.

United States (U.S.):

• The United States of America (USA) has introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act.

• This act was designed to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat the adverse effects of deepfake technology.

FAQs related to Deepfake Technology:

1. What is Deepfake Technology?

Ans: Deepfake is often in the news, which means Deep Learning and Fake. It is a method in which images, video, and audio are manipulated with the use of powerful computers and deep learning (part of Deep synthesis).

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2. Does India has any legal framework to combat against Deepfake technology?

Ans: No, Presently, India does not have a proper legal framework to fight against the deep fake issues.

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3. What are the cons of the deepfake technology?

Ans:  Security & privacy issues, Lack of trust, Increase in scams, Generate fake news, Create fake video