Deepfake Dangers: How AI-Generated Media Threatens Political Stability in the Philippines

Cartoon by Alyana Riguerra

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed a viral video involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a deepfake, highlighting the growing threat of deepfake technology in April 2024. 

Deepfakes, first appearing in 2017, use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create convincing fake media, which can damage public trust, spread misinformation, and harm reputations. The video of Marcos Jr. triggered political outrage before being debunked, showing how quickly deepfakes can influence public discourse.

Deepfakes pose global risks, exemplified by false portrayals of leaders like President Joe Biden and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The technology's prevalence allows powerful figures to discredit real evidence as fake, complicating accountability. The Philippines lacks specific laws addressing the videos, making legal action difficult and allowing perpetrators to avoid punishment. The "liar’s dividend" effect and the swift spread of false media underscore the urgency for legal frameworks and public education.

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), the AI model behind synthetic media, consist of a generator that creates fake content and a discriminator that identifies authenticity. Public education and media literacy are crucial in combating these synthetic videos. Tools like Microsoft’s Video Authenticator and educational campaigns help detect and challenge fake content. Successful efforts include initiatives during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, while failures often result from unclear communication or inadequate outreach. Overall, continued collaboration among tech companies, journalists, and educators is essential for building resilience against AI-driven misinformation.

In the years to come, deepfakes might advance in complexity and become more difficult to spot with the unaided eye. Estimate the effect this might have on elections, possibly confusing voters with fabricated speeches or made-up scandals involving politicians such as the Marcos family. Given the possible influence on future political environments, this could have long-term repercussions. Thus, deepfake technology's normalization may cause people to distrust all video content, which would undermine reliable news sources and political declarations. Deepfakes could be one of the most used machines in the world; they could be used as a marketing tool, for entertainment, or even as a weapon against politicians. The future of ours would be at stake if this issue wasn't addressed.

Deepfakes pose significant risks due to their potential to manipulate the public by deceiving them into believing data that is not real. This may cause chaos and scrutiny to victims. We must avoid being gullible by being aware and cautious.