US agencies have issued a warning to organizations about the potential threats posed by deepfake technology. In a cybersecurity information sheet titled “Contextualizing Deepfake Threats to Organizations,” the National Security Agency (NSA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) highlighted the increasing availability and sophistication of deepfake technologies, which can be used for both positive and malicious purposes.
The agencies acknowledged that while there are limited indications of significant use of deepfake techniques by state-sponsored actors, the accessibility of these technologies to less capable malicious cyber actors suggests that their frequency and sophistication will likely increase. This poses a significant challenge for organizations, as deepfakes can have wide-ranging implications, from compromising the integrity of elections and eroding trust in politicians to facilitating financial fraud and unauthorized access.
Eduardo Azanza, CEO at Veridas, commended the agencies’ recommendations as a positive step forward in enhancing organizations’ resilience against the negative use of AI. He stressed the urgency of addressing the deepfake threat, citing the difficulty in spotting these manipulations and the increasing number of individuals falling victim to deepfake scams. Azanza emphasized the need for organizations to deploy technology as their primary weapon in combating adversaries, particularly through the use of cutting-edge deepfake detection tools. These tools, such as biometrics, leverage AI-trained algorithms to assess the authenticity and liveliness of voices and faces, enhancing organizations’ verification methods and safeguarding assets from theft. However, Azanza noted that there is a performance gap in current deepfake detection algorithms, emphasizing the importance of third-party evaluation and certification for organizations implementing these solutions.
In response to the deceptive use of AI, a measure to limit AI’s exploitation in political campaigns has been introduced in the US Senate. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Josh Hawley, and Susan Collins proposed a bill that would prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive AI-generated audio, images, or video related to federal candidates in political or certain issue ads intended to influence a federal election or fundraise. This move highlights the growing recognition of the need to address the potential misuse of AI in shaping public opinion and influencing democratic processes.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been perpetuating disinformation themes during his speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Among the topics mentioned, he claimed that the UK, with the support of the US, was behind a failed Ukrainian commando attack on a Russian nuclear power plant—an allegation unsupported by evidence. Putin also downplayed the Ukrainian counteroffensive, suggesting that casualties were much higher than reported by others. Additionally, he blamed Ukraine for the ongoing war, claiming that their refusal to negotiate is prolonging the conflict.
In reaction to an alleged strike against Russian naval units in Sevastopol, Putin’s remarks can be characterized as operational-level disinformation. Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov further propagated reactive, tactical propaganda during a recent program. He claimed that Ukraine’s armed forces had conducted strikes on the Ordzhonikidze Shipyard using cruise missiles and uncrewed boats. Solovyov denounced the actions of Ukraine’s supposed Western allies, including Germany, France, and the US, and called for retaliatory strikes against Berlin, London, Washington, and New York. While his rhetoric is mostly intended for domestic consumption, it emphasizes the coarseness and nationalist sentiment prevalent in Russian propaganda.
This display of disinformation highlights the ongoing disinformation campaigns that Russia has been known to engage in. These campaigns aim to shape narratives and manipulate public opinion both domestically and internationally. It is crucial for governments and societies to be aware of and actively combat these efforts to maintain the integrity of democratic processes and public trust.