Last
September, a person who tried to imitate the voice of President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, using artificial intelligence techniques, to defraud businessmen and
government officials was arrested.
اضافة اعلان
The
National Intelligence Agency has identified the person involved in imitating
Erdogan's voice, where he attempted to defraud businessmen and senior
government officials by imitating the Turkish president's voice. The suspect
contacted several businessmen via ten different phone lines, purchased under
the names of foreigners, exploiting the imitation of the voice of the Turkish
President, using artificial intelligence applications.
This
leads to the next point: the ethics of deepfake technology. The anatomy of the
technology holds several key components: it can generate synthetic images,
videos, and audio that closely mimic real-life subjects. The algorithms, neural
networks, and machine learning processes are the underpinning deepfake
creation. In addition, the versatility of deepfakes extends to various
applications, from entertainment and artistic expression to more nefarious
purposes. Deepfake technology is used in film production, the creation of
virtual influencers, and its potential use in political propaganda and
misinformation campaigns.
With
a wide array of uses, it is still a tool that has not been pinned for either
its good or for bad, as with any technology it can be used for good.
Misleading
narratives in daily life
However, deepfake technology is causing misleading
narratives in daily life. For example, a person in Beijing used artificial
intelligence technology to impersonate a friend of the victim via a video call,
asking him for a sum of money. The victim transferred about 4.3 million yuan
($614.8 thousand) to the fraudster. Deepfake content has the power to
infiltrate daily life through social media, messaging apps, and other
communication channels. By impersonating public figures, friends, or family
members, deepfakes can be used to spread false information and manipulate
interpersonal relationships. Moreover, this technology has psychological and
societal impacts which means it can erode trust, induce skepticism, and
contribute to a general sense of uncertainty.
The economic consequences of deepfake
technology
As well as the proliferation of deepfake technology
poses not only threats to individual lives and national security but also
carries profound economic consequences. The impact of deepfake content on
countries' economies caused specific challenges faced by leading companies,
where synthetic media has disrupted financial stability and corporate
reputation.
As well as the proliferation of deepfake technology poses not only threats to individual lives and national security but also carries profound economic consequences. The impact of deepfake content on countries' economies caused specific challenges faced by leading companies, where synthetic media has disrupted financial stability and corporate reputation.
One of the vital issues is financial fraud and
economic disruption: the economic fallout resulting from deepfake-driven
financial fraud. Instances of deepfake technology being used to manipulate
financial markets, disseminate false economic indicators, or execute fraudulent
transactions. Also, Stock Market Manipulation and Investor Confidence is
another issue where the impact of deepfake content on stock markets and
investor confidence is scrutinized. The synthetic media could be used to
manipulate stock prices, mislead investors, or spread false information about
companies, which cause repercussions for the financial stability of nations and
the global economy.
Furthermore, deepfake technology has been used to
cause Reputational Damage to Corporations where synthetic content might be used
to tarnish the reputation of corporations, leading to diminished consumer
trust, stock value decline, and long-term brand damage. Another vital issue is
Supply Chain Disruptions; it being used to spread false information about the
quality or safety of products, resulting in consumer panic and supply chain
disruptions. The economic ramifications of such disruptions extend beyond individual
companies to impact entire industries. Other critical economic implications are
Corporate Espionage and Trade Secrets where deepfake-driven corporate espionage
has been deployed to steal trade secrets, compromise proprietary information,
and undermine the competitiveness of leading companies on a global scale.
Demand urgent attention
The advent of deepfake technology is raising legal and
ethical concerns that demand urgent attention. The complexities surrounding the
legal landscape and ethical considerations associated with deepfake content
propose strategic measures for governments to effectively navigate this
evolving landscape. One of the Legal Challenges is Defining and Prosecuting
Deepfake Offenses. The absence of clear legal frameworks creates ambiguity in
determining liability for the creation and dissemination of deceptive synthetic
content; where existing laws fall short in addressing deepfake-related
offenses. Additionally, Deepfake content often involves the unauthorized use of
individuals' likenesses, raising profound privacy concerns.
Thus, emphasizing the potential harm to individuals, the economy, and society where deepfakes have been used to manipulate public opinion, contributing to a growing awareness of the ethical implications of synthetic media is essential. Also, Strategic Approaches for Governments can be adopted to tackle the legal challenges and ethical issues presented by deepfake technology. Therefore, Technological Solutions and Government-Technology Industry Collaboration should be gathered to mitigate the impact of deepfakes and to develop tools for deepfake detection, authentication, and prevention.
Moreover, the impact of deepfakes on defamation and
libel laws where individuals' and companies’ reputations have been tarnished
through manipulated content. It scrutinizes the limitations of existing legal
frameworks in addressing the evolving nature of character assassination in the
digital age. Furthermore, Intellectual Property and Copyright Challenges are
posed by the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in the creation of
synthetic content, which highlights the need for adaptive copyright laws that
address the nuanced nature of deepfake technology.
Where government and technology meet
Thus, emphasizing the potential harm to individuals,
the economy, and society where deepfakes have been used to manipulate public
opinion, contributing to a growing awareness of the ethical implications of
synthetic media is essential. Also, Strategic Approaches for Governments can be
adopted to tackle the legal challenges and ethical issues presented by deepfake
technology. Therefore, Technological Solutions and Government-Technology
Industry Collaboration should be gathered to mitigate the impact of deepfakes
and to develop tools for deepfake detection, authentication, and prevention.
As deepfake technology
evolves, the economic impact on countries and leading companies becomes
increasingly pronounced. The complex interplay between technological
innovation, ethical considerations, and regulatory responses is essential to
address the challenges posed by the deceptive power of deepfake technology.
Thus, the urgency of recognizing and addressing the multifaceted threats posed
by deepfakes, advocating for collaborative efforts between governments,
technology developers, and cybersecurity experts to safeguard individuals and
nations from the disruptive influence of synthetic media. Hence, strategic and
adaptive approaches are imperative.
Dr. Hamza Alakaleek is a Corporate lawyer and tax consultant with post-graduate degrees in international political economy, international business law, and law and technology with a focus on internet of things, artificial intelligence and data protection.
Disclaimer:
Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Jordan News' point of view.
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