Are All Deepfakes Malicious?

The term "deepfake" often carries negative connotations, but not all deepfakes are created with harmful intent. While the risks are significant, it's essential to understand that deepfake technology also has legitimate and beneficial applications in various fields.

Legitimate Uses of Deepfake Technology & Examples

Ethical applications of deepfake technology are emerging across industries:

Deepfake Technology in Entertainment and Film Industry

De-ageing Actors: Deepfake algorithms are being used to digitally make actors appear younger, avoiding the need for excessive makeup or CGI. In the film Here (2024), Tom Hanks and Robin Wright were convincingly de-aged across several decades using AI-driven facial mapping.
Recreating Deceased Actors: Filmmakers can now generate digital versions of late actors to reprise roles or appear in new productions. For example, deepfake technology was used to digitally recreate Peter Cushing’s likeness for the Star Wars film Rogue One.

Deepfake Technology in Education and Training

Deepfake-powered lip synchronisation and voice cloning can assist in generating real-time translations, aiding individuals with hearing or language barriers.
Virtual instructors created using deepfake tools can offer real-time explanations and custom-tailored responses, helping students visualise complex topics through lifelike interactions.
Historical Reenactments: Educational platforms such as StoryFile and MyHeritage’s Deep Nostalgia are able to utilise deepfakes, such as building avatars of historical figures, to bring history lessons to life, allowing students to "meet" famous personalities like Abraham Lincoln or Cleopatra in interactive modules.

Deepfake Technology in Art

Artists have utilised deepfake technology to create innovative artworks. Singaporean artist Charmaine Poh explores themes of identity and agency in her work, "GOOD MORNING YOUNG BODY." In this piece, Poh utilises deepfake technology to resurrect her 12-year-old self, a character named E-Ching from the early 2000s television series We Are R.E.M. By creating a deepfake avatar of her younger self, Poh addresses issues of objectification and harassment in digital spaces, offering a feminist critique of misogyny online. This work was showcased in the exhibition "Proof of Personhood" at the Singapore Art Museum.

Deepfake Technology in Business and Marketing

Virtual Assistants for Marketing: Brands e.g. TikTok deploy AI-generated spokespersons or avatars that can speak in multiple languages and personalise product pitches based on consumer behaviour.
Brand Avatars for Engagement: Companies use realistic digital personas to respond to queries or present product information, improving user experience while saving human resource costs.

These examples demonstrate how, when used responsibly, deepfake technology can enhance creativity and educational opportunities.

Malicious Uses of Deepfakes and Examples of Dangers

Unfortunately, the same tools used for innovation can also be weaponised:

Deepfake Technology Used For Spreading Misinformation

Deepfakes have been utilised to generate fabricated political speeches, misrepresent public figures, or promote false narratives, influencing public opinion or inciting unrest. For example, deepfake videos of political figures have been used to spread disinformation, damaging reputations and impacting societal cohesion.

Deepfake Technology Used For Fraud

Identity Theft and Financial Fraud: Scammers have utilised AI-driven deepfake technology to impersonate company executives in Singapore. They contact employees via unsolicited WhatsApp messages, claiming to be senior executives. Victims are then invited to live Zoom video calls where deepfake visuals of these executives instruct them to initiate substantial fund transfers under the guise of legitimate business transactions.
Impersonation Attacks: Scammers have cloned the voices of loved ones or colleagues to deceive victims into disclosing sensitive information or sending money. These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, prompting official warnings from consumer protection agencies, including Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Deepfake Technology Used For Non-consensual Content and Privacy Violations

One of the most disturbing uses is creating explicit content involving real individuals without their consent. This abuse often targets women and has led to significant emotional and reputational harm.

These examples illustrate the broad functionality of deepfakes—they’re not confined to any one field, and the consequences of their use depend largely on the creator’s intent.

Legality of Deepfakes

The legality of deepfakes varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some countries, creating deepfakes is legal as long as they do not cause harm. However, when used for fraud, defamation, harassment, or electoral interference, they may breach criminal, privacy, or civil laws.

Singapore, for instance, has enacted laws such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to combat misinformation, including AI-generated content. Globally, efforts are increasing to regulate the malicious use of deepfakes while supporting ethical innovation.

Introduction to Deepfake Technology

Tools and Techniques to Detect Deepfakes

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