We live in an age where social media technology often shapes what appears to be reality, and deepfake videos have emerged as a deeply troubling and formidable tool for both creativity and false propaganda. From Hollywood stars to everyday folks, not even politicians are safe from AI's clever and harmful manipulations. International politicians have grappled with the surreal experience of being digitally manipulated, sometimes to hilarious effect, but they often come with dire consequences. As the general election cranks into gear here in Ireland, get ready for the same level of social media warfare.
Michael Healy-Rae posted on X the deepfake of Taylor Swift endorsing him.
Deepfake technology, which uses artificial intelligence to create realistic alterations to videos, allows any halfwit with basic artificial intelligence skills to make a politician say or do anything. A study by the University of Washington found that over 66% of deepfakes are of non-consensual adult content; the rest are mostly political, and the political implications can have dire consequences.
Former President Barack Obama was one of the first high-profile cases to raise alarm bells. A deepfake video uploaded to social media made it appear that he was delivering a scathing commentary on fake news, with an actor mimicking his voice and mannerisms. While it was created as a cautionary tale about the dangers of misinformation, the implications were clear: anyone can twist reality, leaving audiences questioning what is true.
Some of the fake clips are absurd and satirical, while others misleadingly depict candidates making politically damaging statements. Meanwhile, a group of users across social media works to make these clips seem credible. Disinformation accounts mostly operate out of Russia, Serbia and China.
More recently, former President of the USA, Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have also been the subject of deepfake videos, often featuring exaggerated versions of his speeches, less to inform than to entertain. These satirical takes can even give rise to memes that spread across the internet, but in the right—or wrong—hands, they can influence public opinion, muddying and sometimes radicalising the waters of political discourse.
In the recent UK elections, politicians also faced digital doppelgangers that manipulated their images, undermining credibility and creating chaos during sensitive electoral times, particularly around the political suicide that the Tory Party engaged in. In countries where democratic institutions are weak, disinformation can spark civil unrest, and the malicious use of deepfakes is a new social media weapon.
As we grapple with these digital illusions, the need for discernment among the electorate grows ever more crucial. How is the newly created Electoral Commission going to deal with deepfakes that have the potential to manipulate Irish elections? We can invest in rigorous fact-checking and teaching digital literacy initiatives to prepare voters for the inevitable flood of disinformation that deepfake technology promises to unleash. But what’s the point of digital literacy if social media remains unregulated?
The deepfake debate raises larger questions about authenticity and trust within our media landscape. If a politician can be made to say anything on video, how do we determine what is real? Politicians will be held under the microscope of public scrutiny for things they never did or said. Healy-Rae admitted it was fake and knew it was satire. But the intent was there, even if it was satire.
Deepfake videos may provide a quick laugh or a viral sensation, but the potential ramifications for political figures and democracy at large are profound. As we navigate a world inundated with high-tech forgeries, the adage “innocent until proven guilty” has evolved into “believable until verified.” With each new tool comes an inevitable challenge: discerning fact from fiction in a landscape where nothing is quite as it seems.
We live in a new digital age of hybrid warfare where social media is being used to manipulate elections. We’ve seen it recently in the UK and USA elections. Ireland will not be immune to this. It took me all of two minutes to make the deepfake of Donald Trump endorsing Sinn Féin below. As someone who has worked in the intersection between social media and politics even I’m having trouble separating fact from fiction in a social media landscape where nothing is quite as it seems.
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