In an era where the veracity of visual and audio evidence has
historically been taken for granted, the rise of deepfakes presents
a critical challenge. Here, we explore the impact of seemingly
undetectable deepfakes on society, investigations, and disputes,
examining how the prevailing trust in what people see or hear can
be – and increasingly is – exploited.
Deepfakes: The emergence of synthetic media
Deepfakes are a type of synthetic media that use Artificial
Intelligence (AI) to create realistic images, videos, or audio
recordings that are not real. The term "deepfake" comes
from the blending of "deep learning" and "fake"
into the now infamous portmanteau.
Continued advancements in AI technology have ushered in a new
era of deepfakes, where the creation of convincingly manipulated
media has become increasingly accessible. With minimal technical
expertise and just a basic understanding of the appropriate
software, individuals can now generate deepfakes with
