Deepfakes, which are created using AI technologies, pose a significant challenge to the media and business sectors. To address this issue, Google has joined the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, along with other organizations such as OpenAI, Adobe, Microsoft, AWS, and the RIAA. IT professionals should closely follow the work of this group, especially regarding Content Credentials, as it aims to establish standards for managing visual and video data.
Content Credentials are a type of digital metadata that creators can attach to their content to ensure recognition and promote transparency. This tamper-evident metadata includes information about the creator and the creative process, which is embedded directly into the content at the time of export or download. The support from prominent companies behind Content Credentials increases the likelihood of establishing globally standardized labeling for content.
Using Content Credentials offers several benefits. It builds credibility and trust with audiences by providing more information about the content creator and the creative process. This transparency helps combat misinformation and disinformation online. By attaching identity and contact information to their work, creators can enhance their visibility and recognition. Additionally, it becomes easier to identify and remove illegitimate content.
Australia is facing a significant increase in deepfake fraud, with a 1,530% surge in deepfakes in the past year. The government has announced a strategy to counter deepfakes and treat them as illegal content. Deepfakes are particularly dangerous because they can deceive the viewer’s eye very quickly, making it challenging to determine their validity. While educational resources on identifying deepfakes exist, industry collaboration is necessary to develop effective solutions.
To combat deepfakes, the government and private sector must work together. The government making deepfakes illegal is a positive step, but IT professionals need to develop ways to identify and manage this content. Major business figures in Australia have demanded proactive measures against AI scams, highlighting the need to address this issue. The Australian government has committed to raising awareness, providing support for victims, developing educational content, and supporting industry efforts to combat deepfakes.
Content Credentials offer the best chance of establishing standards to combat deepfakes. IT professionals should actively adopt and integrate Content Credentials into their workflows to ensure content authenticity and traceability. It is crucial to advocate for transparency and ethical practices in content creation and distribution, support regulations, collaborate with others to develop standardized practices and tools, prepare response strategies, and leverage community resources.
Deepfakes pose a significant challenge for the tech industry and IT professionals. Content Credentials provide a starting point for addressing this issue and can serve as a unifying force within the industry.
