The issue of deep fake being used to create misinformation has lately become a concern for all stakeholders. Not only are fake images and videos being circulated to misguide people, but there is also a fear of foreign actors or other malicious entities misusing deep fake technology to launch influence campaigns aimed at destabilizing democracies. Deep fakes are also currently being used to tarnish the reputation of political candidates by fabricating videos of them engaging in illegal or unethical behavior.
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Considering the penetration of social media platforms and popular free messaging apps like WhatsApp, these videos are being spread quickly, potentially swaying public opinion and disrupting the electoral process. Recently, Prime minister Narendra Modi had also warned general public against deep fakes. “We have to be very careful with the new technologies. If these are used carefully, they could be very useful. However, if these are misused it could create huge problems. You must be aware of deep fake videos made with the help of Generative AI. These videos look very real, and therefore, we need to be very cautious before believing in the authenticity of a video or an image,” he had said in an interaction with students.
In the same vein, the Election Commission of India recently warned political parties against using the technology for campaigns. The ECI also issued directions to political parties for responsible and ethical use of social media in election campaigning to ensure level playing field among all stakeholders. “In view of the existing legal provisions, amongst other directions, the parties have been specifically directed to refrain from publishing and circulating deep fake audios/videos, disseminate any misinformation or information which is patently false, untrue or misleading in nature, to refrain from posting derogatory content towards women, to abstain from using children in campaigns, to avoid depicting violence or harm to animals,” says ECI.
Main Pointers of Guidelines Issued by ECI
ECI has directed political parties and their representatives to ensure responsible and ethical use of social media platforms, and has also highlighted that those not following these guidelines will have to do the following:
- Existing legal framework will deal with misinformation and synthetic content specifically brought to the notice of political parties.
- Political parties will have to remove fake content within 3 hours of coming to their notice.
How Can Deep Fake Issue Be Handled?
To address these challenges, it’s important for governments, technology companies, and civil society to work together to develop strategies for detecting and combating deep fake. Some of the measures may involve the following:
- Investing in advanced detection algorithms.
- Promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills among the public.
- Implementing policies to regulate the use of deep fake technology.
Additionally, there needs to be increased transparency around the creation and dissemination of digital content, as well as accountability for those who use deep fakes for malicious purposes
