Thanks to sophisticated digital technology, it is hard to tell what is real and what is fake. The ability to make plausible but completely fabricated videos and images with deepfakes is a new and developing threat in the digital age. Identifying deepfakes to safeguard ourselves from being misinformed or tricked is extremely important.
How to Recognise a Deepfake?
As per ExpressVPN’s research, all deepfakes should not be treated the same. Some can be easily identified as machine-made, while others require close inspection or even further AI techniques to distinguish apart.
Here are ten indicators that you are looking at a Deepfake:
1. Examine the video or still image for any blips
Despite significant advancements, the final product created with deepfake technology can still have imperfections or artifacts, even when using the most cutting-edge software. Examine the video or image carefully for blurriness, pixelation, or other abnormalities. Poorly aligned features are frequently the product of bad planning and can be the source of many headaches.
2. Be on the lookout for movements that don’t make sense
Deepfakes rely on machine learning techniques to duplicate human movements, but these algorithms are not perfect replications of human motion. Be on the lookout for movements that do not appear natural, such as jerky or rigid gestures, particularly in the face or the eyes. Inconsistent animation is often the result of an inefficient algorithm, and it can reveal a Deepfake.
3. Keep an eye out for jarring lighting shifts or shadows
Lighting is a major aspect of making a compelling video or image, so ensure it is constant. Uneven illumination is a potential giveaway for a deepfake. Watch for jarring lighting shifts or shadows that don’t add up as you move from one scene to the next.
4. Pay close attention to the audio
Deepfakes can change audio in addition to video, so it’s crucial to pay close attention to the sound. Listen closely for inconsistencies in the sound, such as a change in volume or pitch. Unnatural or artificial-sounding audio is a telltale sign of a deepfake.
5. Watch for misaligned lips
Deepfakes frequently employ lip-syncing to synchronize the visual and audio. Unfortunately, deepfake algorithms don’t always get it right and sometimes botch lip sync. Be on the lookout for lip-syncing issues, such as a mouth that does not move in time with the voice.
6. Look for background discrepancies
Deepfakes can be spotted by looking for background discrepancies, as they are made by superimposing a face onto a different body or background. Check the setting for glaring anomalies, such as out-of-place furniture or extraneous bystanders. These discrepancies may reveal a deepfake.
7. Keep an eye out for irregularities in the clothes
Keep an eye out for irregularities in the clothes, as deepfakes can sometimes make it seem like someone is wearing a specific outfit. Check for any discrepancies in the garments, such as mismatched patterns or restrictive cuts that inhibit free movement. These discrepancies may reveal a deepfake to be fake.
8. Verify the legitimacy of the video’s or picture’s origin
Since Deepfakes frequently use pre-existing media, verifying the original source is essential. If the video or image comes from a reliable source, then it is probably safe to assume that the claims made about it are accurate.
9. Use facial recognition software applications
You can spot deepfakes using one of the many accessible facial recognition software
applications. To assess if an image or video is a deepfake, this software looks at the eyes’ location and the mouth’s contours.
10. Look for Transitions
Developing deepfakes can be time-consuming because it must be done frame by frame. Maintaining the illusion requires meticulously checking each shot for proper masking. As a result, most deepfake videos that are convincing rely on very few facial animations. They always show us our subjects’ fronts, never their sides, because cuts between the two can expose our mental roadblocks.
Conclusion
Deepfakes are an increasing threat in the digital era. It is possible to spot deepfakes by looking for telltale signs like video or image defects, jerky camera movement, off-kilter lighting and sound, and jarring changes to the setting or the characters’ wardrobe. We can also rely on our intuition and facial recognition technologies to recognize deepfakes. Watching deepfakes and learning the most up-to-date methods for spotting them is crucial as this technology develops.
Knowing how to spot a Deepfake might help you avoid being tricked by false information online. Believe in your innate capacity to recognize Deepfakes. Feeling uneasy or suspicious about something online? It could be a deepfake. You cannot trust everything you read online, so be wary of anything that seems fishy or dubious.
