Anxiety caused by deepfakes in elections

Source: The post anxiety caused by deepfakes in elections has been created, based on the article “Deepfakes in elections: They have shaken our faith in our own judgement” published in “Indian express” on 14th May 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-security-cyber security

Context: The article discusses the anxiety caused by deepfakes in elections. It explains that deepfakes undermine our ability to trust information. Social media causes “context collapse” and “information overload,” making it hard to discern truth from falsehood.

For detailed information on Deepfakes read this article here

Why do we distrust politicians?

It is widely believed that politicians can’t be trusted. Politicians often manipulate information and make false promises. Corruption is a common accusation across all political parties.

Before elections, people were frequently warned about rumors and baseless information. Media and regulatory bodies were trusted to verify and corroborate information.

For example, during elections, various sources remind people to be aware of unchecked gossip, which influences voter decisions.

Why are deepfakes causing anxiety?

Deepfakes cause anxiety because they undermine our ability to trust information. In the past, people believed that they could see through manipulations and trusted media and regulatory bodies to verify information. Deepfakes make people doubt their own judgment even after verification. Social media’s ‘context collapse’ and ‘information overload’ worsen this issue.

For example, on social media, people receive information without knowing its source, making it hard to trust. People consume too much information quickly, relying on algorithms that prioritize engagement and profit and not the truth.

For detailed information on Rise of deepfake-Threat to election integrity read this article here

How can we manage deepfakes?

1. To manage deepfakes, we need clarity between what is real, fake, and really fake.
2. We must address “context collapse” by knowing the source and context of information.
3. Reducing “information overload” is crucial, as it allows thoughtful engagement with content. For example, we should seek information on our own terms, not rely on algorithms that prioritize profit and engagement.
4. Community interventions, fact-checking, and technological solutions like deepfake detectors can help verify information.
5. However, as long as we accept current social media dynamics, stopping deepfakes completely will be challenging.

Question for practice:

Examine how deepfakes impact trust in information and what measures can be taken to manage their influence in elections.