Criminals Are Using Deepfakes to Turn Social Media Photos X

Criminals Are Using Deepfakes to Turn Social Media Photos X

Criminals are weaponizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in disturbing ways, one of which involves manipulating innocent social media photos into compromising or illegal images.

This crime is perpetrated through AI-powered software that creates deepfakes. Deepfakes are synthetic media where a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness. Criminals achieve this by training an AI model on a large collection of images and videos from both targets. Once trained, the model can generate entirely new images or videos where a person’s face is swapped.

Social media photos become targets for these criminals who use deepfakes to create embarrassing or even illegal content. Imagine a deepfake of you or someone you know in a compromising situation, or even one depicting criminal activity.  These fabricated images can be used for blackmail, extortion, or simply to humiliate the victim online.

Fight Back Against Deepfakes

There are steps you can take to protect yourself from this emerging threat. First, be careful of the photos you share on social media. Use the social media platform’s settings to restrict who can see your photos. Stay vigilant for any suspicious activity on your accounts. If you spot something that appears to be a deepfake, report it immediately to the social media platform.

Deepfakes aren’t just a celebrity problem; anyone can be a target. Here are tips to help you stay safe.

• Be cautious about what information you share online.
• Be careful when sharing photos online.
• Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication when available.
  
• Don’t trust unsolicited emails or messages and always think before you click.
• Report any suspicious activity to the platform where you saw it.
• Stay informed about the latest deepfake news and trends.

By following these tips and exercising common sense, you can protect yourself from this type of crime. AI is changing the world, but don’t let it be used to ruin yours.