Deepfakes & AI: Truth Under Attack in the Digital Age

We’ve entered a digital reality where your eyes and ears are no longer reliable witnesses. Artificial intelligence can now replicate faces, clone voices and fabricate events so convincingly that truth itself is under threat. This isn’t sci-fi. It’s the world we live in today. In this article, we’ll break down what deepfakes are, how they’re created, the real-world damage they’re already causing — and what happens when reality becomes optional.

What Exactly Are Deepfakes?

Deepfakes are AI-generated videos, images or audio that make it appear as though someone said or did something they never actually did. They’re powered by deep learning — typically Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) — trained on thousands of photos, hours of footage and extensive audio samples.

When the system has enough data, it produces a synthetic version of a person so realistic that even forensic experts can struggle to verify authenticity.

What once required a Hollywood studio and millions in budget can now be produced by a teenager with a laptop.

Why Deepfakes Are Dangerous

Deepfakes are not just clever — they’re weaponisable.

1. Political Chaos

Imagine watching a “breaking news” video of a prime minister announcing war… or a presidential candidate making hateful remarks. Even if proven false later, emotional damage spreads instantly.

This already happened in 2020 when a deepfake of Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès falsely linked COVID-19 to environmental harm. It went viral before the truth could catch up.

2. Propaganda & Extremism

Authoritarian governments can use deepfakes to justify crackdowns. Terrorist groups can generate fake speeches to incite violence.
Deepfakes are the new fuel for information warfare.

3. Abuse & Non-Consensual Content

An estimated 90–95% of all deepfakes online are pornographic and overwhelmingly target women who never consented.
Careers have been destroyed. Teenagers have been victimised. Lives have been irreversibly damaged.

Violation without contact — consent bypassed by code.

4. Financial Fraud

In 2019 fraudsters used AI to perfectly clone a CEO’s voice, convincing an employee to transfer €220,000.
Now imagine deepfaked board meetings, fabricated earnings calls or manipulated “leaks”.
Markets could be shaken by synthetic lies.

The Liar’s Dividend: When Everything Can Be Fake

Deepfakes create a new and unsettling phenomenon:
If anything can be faked, then anything inconvenient can be dismissed as fake.

Guilty individuals can reject real evidence by claiming “AI did it”.

Truth becomes optional. Public trust collapses. Democracy weakens.

The Legal & Ethical Black Hole

The law is decades behind the technology.

Most countries still have no dedicated legislation against producing or distributing deepfakes unless they intersect with existing laws on fraud, harassment or defamation.

The ethical grey zone is massive:

  • Is using someone’s face for satire acceptable?
  • What about for education?
  • Who is accountable when a deepfake destroys someone’s life?

These questions need urgent global answers.

How We Fight Back

Technology created the problem — and technology must help solve it.

1. AI Detection Systems

Advanced detectors now analyse:

  • Blink rates
  • Light and shadow inconsistencies
  • Skin texture
  • Voice tone and cadence

But this is an arms race. For every new detection method, more convincing generation techniques emerge.

2. Digital Watermarking

Invisible watermarks help prove authenticity of real videos and images. Still early, but promising.

3. Blockchain-Based Provenance

A secure, verifiable chain of custody for digital files.
If widely adopted, it could be a game-changer.

4. Public Education

Ultimately, digital literacy is our strongest defence.
People must learn to:

  • Question
  • Verify
  • Check sources
  • Recognise manipulation techniques

If not, society will drown in digital deception.

The Future: Synthetic Reality at Scale

Virtual influencers already exist.
AI presenters front public broadcasts.
Actors could soon be replaced by digital clones.

But when deepfakes can start wars, ruin reputations or fabricate crimes, we face a pivotal question:

What happens when reality becomes programmable?

Deepfakes are not just technology — they are a mirror.
They reflect our values, our vulnerabilities and our future choices.

Will we use AI to deceive and destroy?
Or to educate, authenticate and protect truth?

The next decade will decide.