Switzerland is not well armed against manipulated videos

Switzerland is poorly prepared for deepfakes. It is difficult for an average person to spot a fake video using artificial intelligence. TA-Swiss, the Foundation for the Evaluation of Technological Choices, is ringing the bell.

“Over the years, it has become increasingly easier to create deepfakes,” Murat Karaboga of the Frauenhofer Institute, who participated in the study, told media in Bern on Tuesday. There are many programs that allow you to create or manipulate sound recordings, but also images and videos, using artificial intelligence (AI), he added.

It is thus possible to create content in which a person does or says something that they have never done or said. Such content is used in particular by criminals who copy the voices of private individuals for shock and blackmail calls.

Identity theft, reputational damage, dissemination of false information and pornographic scenes without the consent of the person concerned are also risks linked to deepfakes, as indicated in the report of more than 400 pages.

Almost impossible detection

According to the report, individuals are hardly able to spot deepfake videos. In one experiment, participants failed to recognize doctored videos. Not even after they were given instructions on how to better recognize such videos. Only people with an affinity for new media performed better.

Detection programs, on which researchers have high hopes for detecting deepfakes, have not obtained better results. “We came to the conclusion that detection programs are neither reliable nor accessible,” Murat Karaboga said.

How can we then recognize such falsified videos? On the one hand, there are some visual signs of recognition. For example hair, which often doesn’t look natural in doctored videos, or movements that seem a bit crude. But with these technologies constantly improving, this will eventually no longer be possible.

Recognizing deepfakes requires, above all, a certain flair, said Murat Karaboga. You have to ask yourself. Is it really possible that this content is authentic?

Necessary measures

To combat the harmful effects of deepfakes, researchers propose a series of measures. Certain legal bases exist, but are sometimes difficult to apply, because the large online platforms on which deepfakes circulate are located abroad and those responsible for the crimes are not always identifiable, said Nula Frei of the university institute UniDistance Swiss.

According to TA-Swiss, the state should require online platforms to remove harmful deepfakes. Researchers still recommend the establishment of victim counseling centers.

Continuing training in media and information skills or the use of advanced authentication procedures are also possible measures against the harmful effects of deepfakes.

The report also recommends self-regulation of the public relations and advertising sector. Journalists are also involved: the researchers therefore recommend promoting strong verification methods in editorial offices.

Opportunities for deepfakes

For researchers, however, there is no question of banning this technology. According to TA-Swiss, deepfakes also offer many opportunities.

In the entertainment industry, deepfakes offer many exciting possibilities, the report says. For example for synchronized versions of films. With the support of AI, the lip movements of actresses and actors can be adapted to the language used.

For their part, the police and criminal prosecution authorities hope that deepfakes will offer new possibilities in the fight against crime, for example for the reconstruction of crime scenes or the sequence of events.

TA-Swiss’ mission is to assess the viability of new technologies. In collaboration with Swiss universities and institutions, they carry out studies on technological development in order to provide information to Parliament, the Federal Council, the administration and the population.

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