ABSTRACT
We are surviving in a world where the technological revolution has eroded the divide between fact and fantasy. Artificial intelligence programs possess the power to develop numerous fabricated visual and auditory content, amplifying the difficulties in discerning genuine material from artificial. Deepfakes allow for the creation of false media without any authorization and lead to psychological instability, political turmoil, and disruptions in the political setup. Deepfakes capitalize on diverse psychological susceptibilities. Humans are wired to form their beliefs over something that they see and hear, and deepfakes exploit this by generating highly manipulated content. Further, cognitive biases such as confirmation bias make us vulnerable to deepfakes as they coincide with our viewpoints. They subtly target our opinions by attacking the place where it hurts. The drastic increase in the art of deepfakes gives rise to serious societal concerns. They stand as a robust tool for misinformation and have the audacity to degrade faith in media and other public institutions. The potential of deepfakes to produce bogus content results in confusion, distrust, and suspicion, and reduces reliance on the audio-visual content as a channel of information. The usage of deepfakes as a tool to deceive the masses can have critical repercussions on the economy, individual freedom and liberties, and the security of the nation. The ethical concerns of deep fakes are no doubt immense.The author has made a sincere attempt to show how deepfakes are employed as a tool to deceive the masses, especially women, which leads to critical repercussions on the economy, individual freedom and liberties, and the security of the nation.
Keywords- Artificial Intelligence, Deepfakes, False media, psychological instability, Women.
INTRODUCTION- IMPACT OF DEEPFAKE ON HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY
We are surviving in a world where the technological revolution has eroded the divide between fact and fantasy. Artificial intelligence (AI) programs and software possess the power to develop numerous fabricated visual and auditory content, amplifying the difficulties in discerning genuine material from artificial. Deepfakes carry the authority to sway and shape our perceptions, interpretations, and feelings profoundly.
Hyper-realistic AI-generated synthetic media, known as deepfakes, manipulate appearances and actions, often to depict fabricated events. As technological advancements make them more and more realistic, their potential for both harmful deception and creative innovation becomes stronger than ever.Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have made it easier to create highly realistic deepfake videos, which can appear to show someone doing or saying something they did not do or say. Deepfakes may present a threat to individuals and society.
The recent example of how deep fake video can significantly play with the psychological workings of a human being could be well-understood by Rashmika Mandana’s viral video incident that occurred in November 2023. The face of a British Influencer was replaced with the actress’s picture. The video displayed the Bollywood star in a compromising position and garnered attention throughout the country.
The actress took to the internet and wrote, “I feel hurt to share a video and also have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online. This is, honestly, extremely scary, not only for me but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused”.[1]
Deepfakes capitalize on diverse psychological susceptibilities. Humans are wired to form their beliefs over something that they see and hear, and deepfakes exploit this by generating highly manipulated content. Further, cognitive biases such as confirmation bias make us vulnerable to deepfakes as they coincide with our viewpoints. They subtly target our opinions by attacking the place where it hurts.
Deepfakes allow for the creation of false media without any authorization and lead to psychological instability, political turmoil, and disruptions in the political setup. The usage of deepfakes as a tool to deceive the masses can have critical repercussions on the economy, individual freedom and liberties, and the security of the nation. The ethical concerns of deep fakes are no doubt immense.
The extremely realistic and genuine audio-visual recordings of people, which are inclusive of acts that were never performed, can have a negative influence on the individuals and can make it difficult to distinguish between fact and fake. The emotional consequences of deepfakes can leave a long-lasting scar.
Multiple issues, such as anxiety, depression, etc., can be heightened. Victims might suffer from low self-esteem, broken relationships, and social exclusion. Moreover, businesses can become prone to financial losses and negative publicity if they fall into the hands of deepfakes. All citizens, be it celebrities or the common man, are not exempt from this threat. Simply put, the psychological impact of deepfakes on humans is enormous, as it affects one’s well-being and goodwill. Hence, it has become crucial to shield ourselves from such ongoing threats.[2]
[1] ‘Rashmika Mandanna Deepfake Case: Police track down four suspects”, LiveMint, December 20, 2023, available at https://www.livemint.com/news/india/rashmika-mandanna-deepfake-case-police-track-down-four-suspects-11703042201589.html (last visited on January 3, 2024).
[2]“The Psychological Impact of Being a Victim of Deepfake”, Medium, November 26, 2023, available at https://medium.com/@takedowns.ai/the-psychological-impact-of-being-a-victim-of-a-deep-fake-8f0b5e8bd791 (last visited on January 10, 2024).