{"id":189938,"date":"2024-04-19T10:49:36","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T17:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=189938"},"modified":"2024-09-22T04:18:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-22T11:18:23","slug":"how-to-teach-your-kids-about-deepfakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/tips-tricks\/how-to-teach-your-kids-about-deepfakes\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Teach Your Kids About Deepfakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is it real? Is it fake?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Deepfake technology has certainly made everything far more complicated online. How do you know for sure what\u2019s real? Can you actually trust anything anymore? Recently<\/span>, a Hong Kong company lost A$40 million in a deepfake scam<\/span><\/a> after an employee transferred money following a video call with a scammer who looked like his boss! Even <\/span>Oprah<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Taylor<\/span><\/a> have been affected by deepfake scammers using them to promote dodgy online schemes. So, how do we get our heads around it, and just as importantly, how do we help our kids understand it? Don\u2019t stress – I got you. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Actually Is Deepfake Technology?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Deepfake technology is essentially photoshopping on steroids. It\u2019s when artificial intelligence is used to create videos, voice imitations, and images of people doing and saying things they never actually did. The \u2018deep\u2019 comes from the type of artificial intelligence that is used \u2013 deep learning. Deep learning trains computers to process data and make predictions in the same way the human brain does.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it first emerged around 2017, it was clunky and many of us could easily spot a deepfake however it is becoming increasingly sophisticated and convincing. And that\u2019s the problem. It can be used to create great harm and disruption. Not only can it be used by scammers and dodgy operators to have celebrities promote their products, but it can also be used to undertake image abuse, create pornographic material, and <\/span>manipulate the outcome of elections<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Are DeepFakes Made?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When deepfakes first emerged they were clunky because they used a type of AI model called Generative Adversarial Network (or GAN). This is when specific parts of video footage or pictures are manipulated, quite commonly the mouth. You may remember when <\/span>Australian mining magnate Andrew Forest was \u2018deepfake\u2019 into spruiking for a bogus \u2018get rich quick\u2019 scheme<\/span><\/a>. This deepfake used GAN \u2013 as they manipulated just his mouth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But deepfakes are now even more convincing thanks to the use of a new type of generative AI called a diffusion model. This new technology means a deepfake can be created from scratch without having to even manipulate original content making the deepfake even more realistic.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts and skilled scammers were the only ones who really had access to this technology until 2023 when it became widely available. Now, anyone who has a computer or phone and the right app (widely available) can make a deepfake. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While it might take a novice scammer just a few minutes to create a deepfake, skilled hackers are able to produce very realistic deepfakes in just a few hours.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Are Deepfakes Made?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As I mentioned before, deepfakes are generated to either create harm or cause disruption. But a flurry of recent research is showing that creating deepfake pornographic videos is where most scammers are putting their energy. <\/span>A recent study into deepfakes in 2023 found that deepfake pornography makes up a whopping 98% of all deepfake videos found online<\/span><\/a>. And not surprisingly, 99% of the victims are women. The report also found that it now takes less than 25 minutes and costs nothing to create a 60-second deepfake pornographic video of anyone using just one clear face image! Wow!!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from pornography, they are often used for election tampering, identity theft, scam attempts and <\/span>to spread fake news<\/span><\/a>. In summary, nothing is off limits!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How To Spot A Deepfake<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The ability to spot a deepfake is something we all need, given the potential harm they can cause. Here\u2019s what to look out for:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n