Deepfakes for all - you won't [and shouldn't] believe your eyes

As with most everything AI related, deepfake technology has come on leaps and bounds since its inception and with the commercial, professional-grade applications improving in quality and scope so too have the entry-level options out there. It is now possible to download an app to any smart phone, feed it a photo of a person [yourself or otherwise] and it will return you the same image with one specific and pretty major difference; the person will be completely naked.

DeepNude, the underlying code that has been used to provide this service is open-source and freely available meaning controlling the spread of other such applications, or the proliferation of doctored images that are in many cases indistinguishable from the real thing becomes very difficult to track, let alone police.

Clearly the issues this type of service raises are many and varied. In a world where every election is marred by conspiratorial scandal, with "fake news" apparently driving voters on every side to make decisions based on half-truths or even blatant fabrications, adding the most powerful medium to the arsenal could make - or ruin - any potential campaign.

If we look at the most recent spate of acquittals for public figures falsely accused of a variety of crimes, there are many who have had to wait months - or even years - for the final verdicts meanwhile their careers, families and lives have been left in tatters. At least in these scenarios there is a real villain who can then be brought to justice.

A controversial photo, shared widely enough across all media platforms is likely to leave an impression on many that would be difficult to wash off. Akin to newspapers and publications printing "corrections" in subsequent issues, it's a far cry from the initial attention-grabbing front page headline.

Add to this state-sponsored campaigns that look to deliberately undermine and even sabotage a country's ruling party, where the aim isn't to provide a convincing alternative but rather influencing individual voters on the days leading up to an election, the burden of proof may come too late to stop the damage.

We should all be taking personal responsibility for verifying the accuracy and validity of our information sources, especially now information is bleeding through from unconventional channels. There is a lot of content out there and not all of it is legitimate.