There have been many developments in deep fake and related-synthetic media technologies since 2017 (photo: Unsplash)

Deepfakes and Democracy

Used to forge synthetic media that people cannot differentiate from true ones; deepfake technology can be considered an emerging trend and its implications need to be explored. 

The phenomenon of deepfakes  goes back to autumn of 2017 , when an anonymous Reddit user uploaded several adult videos on the internet with the pseudonym “Deepfake” and since then the usage of altered videos or images can be found all over the internet.

Democracy in its essence has been understood throughout centuries by all great philosophers such as Chomsky, Kant, Marx, Plato, as an organized society with a form of government that reflects public opinion, based on the role of trust that public opinion has in government administration. 

The intent of the following text is to explore and contextualize deepfakes nowadays linking it with the concept of democracy, politics and development.

The Emergence of Deepfakes in Politics: Initial Developments

Altered images or videos are not a new phenomenon. One can recall propaganda efforts by the Nazis who created misleading depictions to falsely portray the treatment of Jews. 

In December 2017, after initially establishing in pornography, deepfakes made a significant entrance into the political arena when images of Barack Obama started spreading. Obama’s deepfake talks about the danger of misinformation and fake news whilst the video in itself is not actually of him speaking.

Since 2017, there have been many developments in deepfake and related-synthetic media technologies. This technology can be considered as something innovative and dangerous at the same time as it tends to significantly influence people’s consciousness. For example, Obama’s speech was considered at first as a real video.

Reflecting on deepfakes in politics and considering the core functions of democracies—empowered inclusion, collective agenda-setting, will formation, and collective decision-making—deepfakes challenge the role of trust. This in turn can undermine our sense of reality. 
Deepfakes can exploit and amplify the deep distrust that some people already have in politicians or other influential leaders by spreading disinformation. It is observed that deepfakes could potentially shake the very foundations of democracy by manipulating consciousness. Unavoidably the question of where we are heading with the emergence of these new technologies cross the mind. Where are we heading with this new technology?

Deepfakes & truth as a fundamental concept in democracy, where are we?

The question on how the truth can emerge in a deepfake-ridden marketplace of ideas, and if we might start disbelieving the truth as a result of increased deepfake usage, needs to be asked.

Assuming that deepfakes have been and are still being used as manipulators of truth, we cannot avoid reflecting critically on the sources of information we are presented with.

Deepfakes and the ‘Liar Dividend’

Chesney and Citron (2018) introduced the concept of “Liar Dividend” with an observation on how, in recent years, a truth skepticism towards news sources has taken hold. The concept “Liar Dividend” explores the phenomenon of misinformation about misinformation.Or another way to explain it is the way politicians “cry wolf” over fake news creating uncertainty on what the truth actually is, calling everything fake.  As a result this diverts attention from what they do not want to be seen. Politicians profit from an informational environment saturated with misinformation. 

We can find examples of the “Liar dividend”  in President Trump’s numerous statements concerning “fake news”, using it as a shorthand for a host of propositions about the supposed corruption and bias of a wide array of journalists .

Another example of this phenomenon is reported by Z. Rahim, where she wrote that Syrian President Bashar Assad brushed off an Amnesty International report that some 13,000 people had been killed at one of his military prisons by saying “You can forge anything this days” and “We are living in a fake news era” 

The concept of the ‘Liar Dividend’ demonstrates that conveying information using a familiar face, whether it is truthful or not, carries significant social implications. Moreover, public opinion and supporters look for a motivated reason to avoid cognitive dissonance .

Consequently, the use of sources, or rather ‘personification’ becomes a pivotal tool, serving as the primary element harnessed by deepfakes within a visually immersive reality. Therefore, if information or a source is cited by someone deemed authoritative, it gains credibility. Imagine the impact deepfakes can have in this regard. 

When the truth and trust decays, a  space for authoritarianism is created and the press may fail to fulfill its ethical and moral obligation to spread truth. 

This means that deepfake could lead us into a democratic crisis. The perception is that, firstly, the trust in the media is undermined. And secondly that people might not be particularly good at detecting deception when assessing messages and can therefore easily acquire false information.

What about the law on Deepfakes in democracy?

According to R. Chesney and D. Citron (2018), many laws do not have any tools to challenge the usage of deepfakes. Overall, there is a lack of specific laws designed to tackle digital impersonations and law cannot be leveraged against individuals online who cannot be identified or perhaps that live outside the country where the deepfake was reported.

Deepfake and related technologies are challenging law and policy makers (photo: Unsplash).

Deepfakes also create a potential impact on national security. They are technically forms of expression, so it would be unconstitutional (referring to the first amendment of the United States) to ban all of them. However, some kinds of speech are not protected by the freedom of expression, and in some cases the deepfake imagery falls in this category .

The doubt remains if laws could prevent the malicious use of deepfake technology while preserving its positive function in society. There is a legal vacuum that needs to be filled.

Deepfakes could emerge in development – a potential area of usage

In 2019 David Beckham appeared in a campaign that sought to inform the world about Malaria. What was notable here was the usage of deepfake technology to change the appearance of Beckham’s face and to make his lips move when speaking several languages. 

With these new technologies it can be worth thinking outside the box.

Deepfake technology has the potential to be used as a force for good (photo: Unsplash).

Deepfake could become an incredible source for development once they are legitimized by law and steps are taken to ensure it does not undermine democracy.

Consider, for example, using deepfakes to influence health behavior as the Beckham Malaria campaign was in some regard attempting to do. Moreover, there is a body of evidence indicating the positive impact on development, as shown in studies conducted in Pakistan, or in Kenya that used ICT applications such as personalized text messages and motivational messages. (Heeks 2017)

Deepfakes operate on a profoundly engaging level and lead the viewer to trust what they hear and see. If deepfakes are used to convey messages from a “trusted” source to individuals who need reassurance in, for example, following sound medical guidelines for the sake of their well-being, the impact could be massive.

Conclusion and an open question

Deepfake technology is a powerful tool that engages our senses and could therefore shape our consciousness. Are we ready for this, and have we got the social maturity to use this useful tool for the purpose of conscious development?

Stay tuned and drop your opinion in the comment section below.

Join the discussion

One of our objectives for this student project is to generate conversation and debate around the topics we’re covering. As such, we invite you to join the discussion in the comment section below. As with any public forum, we ask that you please keep the conversation respectful and avoid the use of inappropriate or harmful language

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References

Heeks R. (2017) “Information and Communication technology for Development (ICT4D)” Abington Routledge (pp 209-211).

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