What are deep fakes, how to identify them, and government countermeasures

The rise of deepfake technology has posed a growing threat to individuals and celebrities alike. Bollywood actresses, including stars like Katrina Kaif and Rashmika Mandanna, have become victims of this disturbing trend. However, the matter came into the limelight after a deep fake video of Rashmika went viral on social media. In this article, we will learn about deep fake technology and how to identify them.

Deepfakes are hyper-realistic manipulated media, often involving videos and images, created through artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. They can make it appear as if a person is saying or doing things they never did, which can have significant real-world consequences.

These deepfake videos and images can damage a person’s reputation, invade their privacy, and even lead to harassment and blackmail. Identifying deepfakes can be a challenging task, as they are often extremely convincing. Deepfakes are frequently distinguishable due to their unnatural facial expressions and movements, like excessive or inadequate blinking, or movements that appear overly rigid or jerky. 

The government sends rule reminders to social media platforms

A reliable indicator for discerning the authenticity of a video lies in the eyes. Deepfakes often feature eyes that are either blurry, lacking focus, or failing to sync with the individual’s head movements.

Recognizing the seriousness of this issue, the Indian government has taken action to address it. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has invoked Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deals with ‘punishment for cheating by personation using a computer resource.’ This legal provision allows for imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees for those found guilty of cheating through personation using communication devices or computer resources.

The Indian government’s response to this issue is a significant step toward safeguarding individuals’ privacy and reputation in the digital age. It is a reminder that the proliferation of deepfakes should not go unchecked, and stringent measures are necessary to deter those who misuse this technology for malicious purposes.