DEEP
FAKES - SCI & TECH (MAINS)
Q.
To comprehend why the global and
local regulation of deepfake technology must be expedited, one needs to delve
deeper into the consequences of the misuse of deep fakes and its societal
implications. Discuss. (15 marks, 250 words)
News:
PM Modi warns against
deepfakes; calls on media to educate people on misinformation
What's
in the news?
●
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the
misuse of artificial intelligence for creating deepfakes as problematic, and as
one of the looming issues going ahead asking media to educate people about this
phenomenon.
Deep
Fakes:
●
Deep fakes are fake content in the form of
videos, pictures and audio which are created using powerful artificial
intelligence tools.
●
The origin of the word “deepfake” can be
traced back to 2017 when a Reddit user, with the username “deepfakes”, posted
explicit videos of celebrities.
Technology
behind deep fakes:
●
The technology involves modifying or
creating images and videos using a machine learning technique called generative
adversarial network (GAN). This AI-driven software detects and learns the
subjects’ movements and facial expressions from the source material and then
duplicates these in another video or image.
Challenges
posed by Deep fakes:
1.
Promotes ‘Liar’s Dividend’:
●
Liar’s Dividend refers to the situation
when an undesirable truth is dismissed as deep fake or fake news.
●
Leaders weaponize deep fakes to replace an
actual piece of media and truth.
●
Deepfakes blur the line between reality
and fake. People start dismissing reality as fake.
2.
Erosion of trust in democratic processes like elections:
●
Doctored content, most likely in the form
of a realistic fake video is presented as fact to alter public perception and
create democratic deficit.
3.
Crime against women:
●
The deep fakes are being used as a weapon
to attack women's dignity and chastity.
●
According to AI company Deep trace report,
over 90% of the deep fake videos are pornographic in nature.
4.
Fuelling Radicalisation and violence:
●
The non-state actors like ISIS and
Al-Qaeda, use fake videos to stir anti-state sentiments among people.
5.
Rise in cybercrimes:
●
Cyber criminals are using deepfake
technology to carry out phishing attacks, financial frauds and identity theft.
●
Researchers have observed a 230% increase
in deepfake usage by cybercriminals and scammers.
6.
Means of ‘hybrid warfare’ or ‘grey zone tactics’:
●
Countries have been using the deep fakes
to spread misinformation and for espionage.
●
The European Union has termed these
deepfakes as ‘Foreign Information manipulation Interference‘.
7.
Trust deficit in traditional media:
●
Even mainstream news sources often fall
for the propagandist misinformation which enhances trust deficit in these media
channels.
Legal
Measures:
1.
IT Act of 2000:
●
Section
66E:
○
It is applicable in cases of deepfake
crimes that involve capturing, publishing, or transmitting a person’s images in
mass media, violating their privacy.
○
Offenders can face imprisonment for up to
three years or a fine of up to ₹2 lakh.
●
Section
66D:
○
It allows for the prosecution of
individuals who use communication devices or computer resources with malicious
intent to cheat or impersonate someone.
○
It can result in imprisonment for up to
three years and/or a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
●
Copyright
Protection:
○
The Indian Copyright Act of 1957 provides
copyright protection for works, including films, music, and other creative
content.
○
Copyright owners can take legal action
against individuals who create deepfakes using copyrighted works without
permission.
○
Section 51 of the Copyright Act provides
penalties for copyright infringement.
●
Government
Advisory:
○
On January 9, 2023, the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to media organizations to
exercise caution when airing content that could be manipulated or tampered
with.
○
The Ministry also recommended labeling
manipulated content as “manipulated” or “modified” to inform viewers that the
content has been altered.
International
Measures:
1.
China:
●
China has implemented a policy that
requires deep fake content to be labeled and traceable to its source.
●
Users need consent to edit someone’s image
or voice, and news from deepfake technology must come from government-approved
outlets.
2.
European Union (EU):
●
The EU has updated its Code of Practice to
combat the spread of disinformation through deepfakes.
●
Tech giants like Google, Meta (formerly
Facebook), and Twitter are required to take measures to counter deep fakes and
fake accounts on their platforms.
●
Non-compliance can result in fines of up
to 6% of their annual global turnover.
3.
United States:
●
The U.S. introduced the bipartisan Deep
Fake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
counter deep fake technology.
●
The U.S. established a Deepfake Task Force
Act to counter deep fake technology, requiring annual studies and
countermeasure development.
The rise of deepfake
technology poses significant threats to individuals, societies, and national
security, prompting a need for global collaboration, regulatory measures,
enhanced media literacy, and technological solutions to mitigate its harmful
impacts and ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the
digital age.