#FactCheck - Uncovered: Viral LA Wildfire Video is a Shocking AI-Generated Fake!

Introduction

As our reliance on digital communication technologies increases, so do the risks associated with the same. The propagation of false information is a significant concern. According to the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Risk Report, India ranks the highest for misinformation and disinformation risk. Indian Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the digital information age, addressing Indian Information Service officer trainees at the Vice President's Enclave on 18th June 2024. He has highlighted the issue of widespread misinformation and the need to regulate it. He stated “Information is power, information is too dangerous a power, information is that power which has to be regulated’’.

VC calls for regulation of the Information Landscape 

The Vice President of India, Shri Dhankhar, has called on young Indian Information Service officers to act swiftly to neutralize misinformation on social media. He emphasized the importance of protecting individuals and institutions from fake narratives set afloat on social media. The VP called for the officers to act as information warriors, protecting the privacy and reputation of affected individuals or institutions. 

The VP also highlighted India's vibrant democracy and the need for trust in the government. He called for the neutralization of motivated narratives set by global media and stressed the importance of not allowing others to calibrate them. He also emphasized the need to promote India's development narrative globally, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and diversity. He has expressed the need to regulate information, saying “Unregulated information & fake news can create a disaster of un-imaginable proportion.”

MeitY Advisory dated 1st March 2024

As regards to the issue of misinformation, the recently-issued advisory by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), specifies that all users should be well informed about the consequences of dealing with unlawful information on online platforms, including disabling access, removing non-compliant information, suspension or termination of access or usage rights of the user to their user account and imposing punishment under applicable law. The advisory entails that users are clearly informed, through terms of services and user agreements, about the consequences of engaging with unlawful information on the platform. Measures to combat deepfakes or misinformation have also been discussed in the advisory. The advisory necessitates identifying synthetically-created content across various formats, and advising platforms to employ labels, unique identifiers, or metadata to ensure transparency. Furthermore, the advisory mandates the disclosure of software details and tracing the first originator of such synthetically created content.

Conclusion

The battle against the growing incidences of misinformation and disinformation will not be easily won: developing a robust regulatory framework to counter online misinformation is essential. Alongside the regulatory framework, the government should encourage digital literacy campaigns, promote prebunking and debunking strategies and collaborate with relevant organisations such as cybersecurity experts, fact-checking entities, researchers, and policy analysts to combat misinformation on the Internet. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's statement scores the need to regulate information to prevent the spread of fake news or misinformation.

References:

1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2026304
2. https://regmedia.co.uk/2024/03/04/meity_ai_advisory_1_march.pdf

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Introduction

You must have heard of several techniques of cybercrime up to this point. Many of which we could never have anticipated. Some of these reports are coming from different parts of the country. Where video calls are being utilised to cheat. Through video calls, cybercriminals are making individuals victims of fraud. During this incident, fraudsters film pornographic recordings of both the victims using a screen recorder, then blackmail them by emailing these videos and demanding money. However, cybercriminals are improving their strategies to defraud more people. In this blog post, we will explore the tactics involved in this case, the psychological impact, and ways to combat it. Before we know more about the case, let’s have a look at deep fake, AI, and Sextortion and how fraudsters use technology to commit crimes.

Understanding Deepfake

Deepfake technology is the manipulation or fabrication of multimedia information such as videos, photos, or audio recordings using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, and profound learning models. These algorithms process massive quantities of data to learn and imitate human-like behaviour, allowing for very realistic synthetic media development.

Individuals with malicious intent may change facial expressions, bodily movements, and even voices in recordings using deepfake technology, basically replacing a person’s appearance with someone else’s. The produced film can be practically indistinguishable from authentic footage, making it difficult for viewers to distinguish between the two.

Sextortion and technology

Sextortion is a sort of internet blackmail in which offenders use graphic or compromising content to compel others into offering money, sexual favours, or other concessions. This information is usually gained by hacking, social engineering, or tricking people into providing sensitive information.

Deepfake technology combined with sextortion techniques has increased the impact on victims. Deepfakes may now be used by perpetrators to make and distribute pornographic or compromising movies or photographs that seem genuine but are completely fake. As the prospect of discovery grows increasingly credible and tougher to rebut, the stakes for victims rise.

Cyber crooks Deceive

In this present case, cyber thugs first make video calls to people and capture the footage. They then twist the footage and merge it with a distorted naked video. As a result, the victim is obliged to conceal the case. Following that, “they demand money as a ransom to stop releasing the doctored video on the victim’s contacts and social media platforms.” In this case, a video has emerged in which a lady who was supposedly featured in the first film is depicted committing herself because of the shame caused by the video’s release. These extra threats are merely intended to inflict psychological pressure and coercion on the victims.

Sextortionists have reached a new low by profiting from the misfortunes of others, notably targeting deceased victims. The offenders want to maximise emotional pain and persuade the victim into acquiescence by generating deep fake films depicting these persons. They use the inherent compassion and emotion connected with tragedy to exact bigger ransoms from their victims.

This distressing exploitation not only adds urgency to the extortion demands but also preys on the victim’s sensitivity and emotional instability. They even pressurize the victim by impersonating them, and if the demands are fulfilled, the victims may land up in jail.

Tactics used

The morphed death videos are precisely constructed to heighten emotional discomfort and instil terror in the targeted individual. By editing photographs or videos of the deceased, the offenders create unsettling circumstances that heighten the victim’s emotional response.

The psychological manipulation seeks to instil guilt, regret, and a sense of responsibility in the victim. The notion that they are somehow linked to the catastrophe increases their emotional weakness, making them more vulnerable to the demands of sextortionists. The offenders take use of these emotions, coercing victims into cooperation out of fear of being involved in the apparent tragedy.

The impact on the victim’s mental well-being cannot be overstated. They may experience intense psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The guilt and shame associated with the false belief of being linked to someone’s death can have long-lasting effects on their emotional health and overall quality of life, others may have trust issues.

Law enforcement agencies advised

Law enforcement organisations were concerned about the growing annoyance of these illegal acts. The use of deep fake methods or other AI technologies to make convincing morphing films demonstrates scammers’ improved ability. These tools are fully capable of modifying digital information in ways that are radically different from the genuine film, making it difficult for victims to detect the fake nature of the video.

Defence strategies to fight back: To combat sextortion, a proactive approach that empowers individuals and utilizes resources is required. This section delves into crucial anti-sextortion techniques such as reporting events, preserving evidence, raising awareness, and implementing digital security measures.

• Report the Incident: Sextortion victims should immediately notify law enforcement. Contact your local police or cybercrime department and supply them with any important information, including specifics of the extortion attempt, communication logs, and any other evidence that can assist in the investigation. Reporting the occurrence is critical for keeping criminals responsible and averting additional harm to others.
• Preserve Evidence: Preserving evidence is critical in creating a solid case against sextortionists. Save and document any types of contact connected to the extortion, including text messages, emails, and social media conversations. Take screenshots, record phone calls (if legal), and save any other digital material or papers that might be used as evidence. This evidence can be useful in investigations and judicial processes.

Digital security: Implementing comprehensive digital security measures can considerably lower the vulnerability to sextortion assaults. Some important measures that one can use:

• Use unique, complicated passwords for all online accounts, and avoid reusing passwords across platforms. Consider utilising password managers to securely store and create strong passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible, which adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second verification step, such as a code delivered to your phone or email, in addition to the password.
• Regular software updates: Keep your operating system, antivirus software, and programmes up to date. Security patches are frequently included in software upgrades to defend against known vulnerabilities.
• Adjust your privacy settings on social networking platforms and other online accounts to limit the availability of personal information and restrict access to your content.
• Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading files from unfamiliar or suspect sources. When exchanging personal information online, only use trusted websites.

Conclusion:

Combating sextortion demands a collaborative effort that combines proactive tactics and resources to confront this damaging practice. Individuals may actively fight back against sextortion by reporting incidences, preserving evidence, raising awareness, and implementing digital security measures. It is critical to empower victims, encourage their rehabilitation, and collaborate to build a safer online environment where sextortionists are held accountable and everyone can navigate the digital environment with confidence.

 Introduction

Children today are growing up amidst technology, and the internet has become an important part of their lives. The internet provides a wealth of recreational and educational options and learning environments to children, but it also presents extensively unseen difficulties, particularly in the context of deepfakes and misinformation. AI is capable of performing complex tasks in a fast time. However, misuse of AI technologies led to increasing cyber crimes. The growing nature of cyber threats can have a negative impact on children wellbeing and safety while using the Internet.  

 India's Digital Environment

India has one of the world's fastest-growing internet user bases, and young netizens here are getting online every passing day. The internet has now become an inseparable part of their everyday lives, be it social media or online courses. But the speed at which the digital world is evolving has raised many privacy and safety concerns increasing the chance of exposure to potentially dangerous content.

 Misinformation: The raising Concern

Today, the internet is filled with various types of misinformation, and youngsters are especially vulnerable to its adverse effects. With the diversity in the language and culture in India, the spread of misinformation can have a vast negative impact on society. In particular, misinformation in education has the power to divulge young brains and create hindrances in their cognitive development. 

To address this issue, it is important that parents, academia, government, industry and civil society start working together to promote digital literacy initiatives that educate children to critically analyse online material which can ease navigation in the digital realm.

DeepFakes: The Deceptive Mirage:

Deepfakes, or digitally altered videos and/or images made with the use of artificial intelligence, pose a huge internet threat. The possible ramifications of deepfake technology are concerning in India, since there is a high level of dependence on the media. Deepfakes can have far-reaching repercussions, from altering political narratives to disseminating misleading information.

Addressing the deepfake problem demands a multifaceted strategy. Media literacy programs should be integrated into the educational curriculum to assist youngsters in distinguishing between legitimate and distorted content. Furthermore, strict laws as well as technology developments are required to detect and limit the negative impact of deepfakes.

Safeguarding Children in Cyberspace

●   Parental Guidance and Open Communication: Open communication and parental guidance are essential for protecting children's internet safety. It's a necessity to have open discussions about the possible consequences and appropriate internet use. Understanding the platforms and material children are consuming online, parents should actively participate in their children's online activities.

●  Educational Initiatives: Comprehensive programs for digital literacy must be implemented in educational settings. Critical thinking abilities, internet etiquette, and knowledge of the risks associated with deepfakes and misinformation should all be included in these programs. Fostering a secure online environment requires giving young netizens the tools they need to question and examine digital content.

●   Policies and Rules: Admitting the threats or risks posed by misuse of advanced technologies such as AI and deepfake, the Indian government is on its way to coming up with dedicated legislation to tackle the issues arising from misuse of deepfake technology by the bad actors. The government has recently come up with an advisory to social media intermediaries to identify misinformation and deepfakes and to make sure of the compliance of Information Technology (IT) Rules 2021. It is the legal obligation of online platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation and exercise due diligence or reasonable efforts are made to identify misinformation and deepfakes. Legal frameworks need to be equipped to handle the challenges posed by AI. Accountability in AI is a complex issue that requires comprehensive legal reforms. In light of various cases reported about the misuse of deepfakes and spreading such deepfake content on social media, It is advocated that there is a need to adopt and enforce strong laws to address the challenges posed by misinformation and deepfakes. Working with technological companies to implement advanced content detection tools and ensuring that law enforcement takes swift action against those who misuse technology will act as a deterrent among cyber crooks. 

●    Digital parenting: It is important for parents to keep up with the latest trends and digital technologies. Digital parenting includes understanding privacy settings, monitoring online activity, and using parental control tools to create a safe online environment for children.

Conclusion

As India continues to move forward digitally, protecting children in cyberspace has become a shared responsibility. By promoting digital literacy, encouraging open communication and enforcing strong laws, we can create a safer online environment for younger generations. Knowledge, understanding, and active efforts to combat misinformation and deeply entrenched myths are the keys to unlocking the safety net in the online age. Social media Intermediaries or platforms must ensure compliance under IT Rules 2021, IT Act, 2000 and the newly enacted Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. It is the shared responsibility of the government, parents & teachers, users and organisations to establish safe online space for children.   

References:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1975445
• https://www.safes.so/blogs/dangers-of-deepfake/