Recognize manipulation, truth from lies will still be harder. There are still ways to access such technologies more extensive and unfortunately affordable.
“We checked 36 parliamentary, regional and presidential electionswhich took place from September 2023 to February 2024, and we found that in at least 10 cases, deepfake videos and audio recordings with voice cloning were used for disinformation campaigns. They often do it is not the work of lone wolves, but the coordinated actions of professional groups. In connection with the European elections, we can expect a new wave of forgeries across individual countries,” says Daniel Šafář, Area Manager of the CEE region from the cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies (ChPST). As he added, these are threats in which deepfake technologies affect trust in elections and their course. “It must be said that it is not just a technological threatswallow it democratic threat touching of all EU member states,added Šafář.
Fraudulent content as a business
The mentioned company draws attention to the fact that, for example, they are currently on Telegram hundreds of channels (approximately 400–500) and groups which specialize in deepfake services. Some are controlled only by machineswhich will guide potential users through the entire process, others are already turnkey, provided directly by individual cybercriminals. What is very worrying is that the creation of fraudulent content is also affordable. According to ChPST, prices start at $2 per videofor $100 you can pay for more videos and trials.
Cloning a voice is a breeze
Unfortunately, progress in science and technology is once again it becomes a tool that can be misused for not very good ends. If you feel that you can safely recognize someone by their voice, then watch out! Voice cloning is used to replicate how a person speaks, already very often and with remarkable accuracy. It is analyzed pitch, tone and style of voiceso artificial intelligence (AI) can then generate convincing fake speeches, which faithfully imitate the original voice. At the same time just a few seconds of audio from an online video is enough or other recordings. In this case too, they are prices relatively low, they start at around $10 for a monthly flat rate, but they can run into the hundreds of dollars depending on the quality of the functions provided.
Spreading misinformation
Fake videos, that is deepfakes, They could be used to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion. “However, there is also potential here the threat of cyber attacks on the infrastructure of electoral systems“, warns the head of ChPST Šafář.
As an example, he gave a situation when during the parliamentary elections in Slovakia she was seen trying to influence public opinion by cloning the candidate’s voice.
“At tight election results can decide the winner i very small influences and tip the imaginary tongue on the scales in one direction or the other. Similarly, we saw an attempt to influence Polish elections using video with sound generated by AI technologies,” he pointed out. AND it’s not just about the specifics of Europe, many other countries have similar experiences.
That’s why vigilance and cooperation at all levels required, in order to preserve the integrity of the electoral process. In the context of elections, they can be similar videos not only damage the reputation of politicians and spread fake news. Ultimately, they can significantly influence voters’ decisions.
Vandals behind the monitors
According to Daniel Šafář, a wave of hacktivist attacks can also be expectedespecially in the form of DDoS attacks on various services and exposed websites. “For example, during the Czech presidential elections, pro-Russian hacktivist group NoName057 she tried to disable the pages of some candidates and evoke an atmosphere of fear,” he concluded.
What is deepfake technology?
It uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to create or edit videos and audio recordingsto make them look and sound authentic. The depicted persons may then do and say things that they never actually did or said. If used before an election can lead to destabilization of the political environment. The result can be distrust in democratic institutions and processes.
National hacking groups and other cybercriminals may also try to disrupt the election process with various sophisticated attacks and espionage and data leakage efforts, to they influenced election results in favor of certain political groups or ideologies.
What is the defense like?
- Verify sources: Learn to recognize reliable sources of information and avoid sharing untrustworthy content that could manipulate your friends.
- Educate yourself: Key to combating manipulation and misinformation is education and the use of critical thinking. For example, it is useful to attend media literacy workshops or courses to spot fake content.
- Use technology for a good cause: Use available tools to detect deepfakes and other manipulative content. Social networks and platforms should inform users of the possibility that content may be manipulated.
- Beware of spam: Do not open emails or attachments from unknown sources or people. At the same time, do not react to the messages and delete them immediately, or report them.
