The Danish government is introducing strict laws on Deepfake technology, under which the unauthorized use of someone's voice or image will be a crime, curbing the misuse of the technology.
Deepfake Video: In the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where technological advancements are being made, the dangers arising from the misuse of technologies like Deepfake have presented governments with new challenges. The Danish government has taken a historic step by taking this challenge seriously. It is now going to make strict laws to prevent the unethical use of Deepfake technology. This step could prove to be a milestone in controlling the social, political, and cyber threats arising from this technology.
What is Deepfake Technology?
Deepfake is an advanced AI technology that uses machine learning and deep learning to create near-perfect copies of a person's image and voice. Using this, fake videos and audio are prepared, which look and sound so real that it becomes difficult for the average person to differentiate between truth and falsehood. The name 'Deepfake' is made up of two words - 'Deep Learning' and 'Fake'. The roots of this technology are hidden in two major AI algorithms called Encoder and Decoder. The Encoder recognizes the pictures, gestures, and voice of the real person and learns its pattern, while the Decoder adds this information to another video in such a way that the video looks real.
Denmark's Historic Step
Denmark is going to be the first country in the world to declare the unauthorized use of Deepfake a punishable offense. The government has prepared a draft of a proposed law, under which the following provisions have been made:
- Using someone's image or voice without permission will be a crime.
- Strict penalties will be applicable on the dissemination of Deepfake videos or audio.
- Social media platforms will be given the legal responsibility to remove Deepfake content.
This law will be particularly effective in cases where Deepfake has been used to tarnish people's image, spread political confusion, or in cyber fraud.
The Increasing Impact of Deepfake-Related Threats
This step by the Danish government is also the need of the hour. In recent years, the misuse of Deepfake technology has been seen in several serious cases:
- Political Propaganda: Voters were misled by fake statements of leaders during elections.
- Social Blackmailing: Women and youth were defamed by creating obscene Deepfake videos of them.
- Fake News: Fake videos were made viral on social media to increase communal tension.
- Cyber Crime: Crimes such as banking fraud were committed by stealing identities.
Global Concern and the Direction of Solution
Deepfake is not just a problem for Denmark. Many countries around the world, including the United States, India, and the European Union, are concerned about this technology. In the US, misinformation was spread through Deepfake several times during elections. Obscene Deepfake videos have also surfaced in many cases in India. International organizations have demanded a global framework on this issue so that uniform laws can be made for Deepfake all over the world. Cyber experts believe that if this technology is not controlled now, it may become a threat to national security in the coming times.
What Should Ordinary Citizens Do?
Amidst the growing threat of Deepfake, it is the responsibility of every citizen to be vigilant. By adopting the following measures, one can avoid the effects of Deepfake:
- Do not share any shocking video or audio without investigation.
- Always verify the source of the content.
- Use Google Reverse Image Search or other tools to check the veracity of the content.
- Immediately report any suspicious video or post to the relevant platform.
