In this digital age reality is no longer absolute.
The emergence of deepfake has brought significant technological advancement and a daunting challenge. Deepfakes are one of the most rapidly changing technologies today and they are referred to as Artificial Intelligence (AI); generated synthesised or overlaid images and videos utilising existing photos and videos for deception purpose. It creates hyper-realistic digital content that can be difficult to distinguish from reality. These tools can generate convincing representation of individuals making it appear as though they said or did things they never actually did.
The federal government recently raised an alarm over the use of Deepfake news to target it and its officials. According to the report, fake news has gotten worse by becoming a tool for critics to target the government. Nigerians ought to know that we have graduated from normal fake news to “deepfake news.”
The major threat of deepfake news is that it is difficult to distinguish fake news from genuine news since creators of deepfake would take a story; either a video or a photo, and make it look genuine.
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However, deepfakes serve as a tool to spread false information; manipulate public opinion and undermine trust in the media. Individuals can become victims of deepfakes without their consent, leading to reputational harm and personal distress. Deepfakes can also be used to spread false information about candidates or manipulate public opinion or to promote ideology.
In Nigeria, there is no substantive legislation regulating the creation and use of deepfakes. This calls for government or policymakers to establish clear guidelines and laws concerning deepfakes. Individuals should be aware of deepfakes and their implications. The battle against deepfakes requires cooperation, vigilance and commitment to truth. Verification of information will help against misleading the public.
The time to act is now. Join the fight against deepfake deception. Stay vigilant, stay informed.
Aisha Yakubu Wada, Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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