Experts at ISB Hyderabad Summit urge governments & tech giants to address growing threat of deepfakes

Hyderabad: Experts gathered at the Data Science Summit at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad to discuss the growing threat of deepfake technology on November 29, 2024. They warned that the misuse of AI to create deepfakes could disrupt elections, spread misinformation, and harm individuals through attacks and financial scams.

At the summit, the Misinformation Combat Alliance announced plans to expand its Deepfake Analysis Unit, which would enable citizens to report suspected fake content via WhatsApp.

Speaking on the occasion, noted Journalist and Fact-Check Trainer Sudhakar Reddy Udumula highlighted the need for urgent action. He called on social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube to develop algorithms capable of detecting and blocking deepfakes.

Sudhakar Reddy Udumula warned that deepfakes, once easily detectable, have become increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult to distinguish them from authentic media. He highlighted their potential to defame individuals, manipulate public opinion during elections, and spread communal disharmony. Deepfakes are also being used in scams, blackmail, and even to frame innocent people.

Sudhakar Reddy specifically pointed out the dangers posed by deepfakes to women, who are often targeted with fake, obscene videos. He also noted the technology’s potential to cause financial losses, damage societal trust, and affect election outcomes. While acknowledging the occasional positive use of deepfakes in entertainment, he stressed the need for ethical guidelines to regulate AI technology. Sudhakar Reddy called on the government to introduce media literacy programs to help the public identify deepfakes and understand their risks.

Cybersecurity expert Major Vineet Kumar, founder of the Cyber Peace Foundation, discussed the rise in cybercrimes involving deepfakes, such as extortion and disinformation. He described how victims were often unaware of the damage until it was too late. IPS officer Ajay Kumar Yadav shared his concerns, noting that deepfakes have transitioned from isolated incidents to mainstream threats that undermine public trust and influence elections.

British Deputy Commissioner Gareth Owen inaugurated the event, and other speakers included Laura Baldwin, South Asia Cyber Lead at the British High Commission, Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean of ISB, and Sruti Dilip Mantri, Head of ISB’s Data Sciences Institute. Professor Manish Gangwar of ISB stressed that while deepfake technology holds creative potential, its risks to society, ethics, and governance require immediate attention.

The summit ended with a call for a multi-pronged approach to address deepfake technology. Experts urged social media platforms to implement robust detection mechanisms, governments to introduce media literacy initiatives, and stronger legal frameworks to penalize the creation and dissemination of malicious deepfake content. Collaboration between academia, government, and industry was seen as vital to stay ahead of technological advancements.