Deepfake

Deepfakes use generative AI to copy someone's face or voice. With enough photos or recordings of a person, a tool can produce new material that looks or sounds convincingly like them.

Some uses are harmless, such as film effects or a comedy sketch that is clearly labelled. Others cause real harm: fake videos of politicians, false images used to embarrass or harass people, and scam phone calls where a cloned voice of a relative asks for money urgently.

You cannot always spot a deepfake by looking for glitches, because the tools keep improving. It is more useful to ask where the content came from and whether trusted sources report the same thing. If a call or message from someone you know asks for money or secrets, hang up and contact them another way. Agreeing on a family code word can help.