Beyond fun and games: The dangers of AI face swapping technology

While it enables entertainment, AI face-swapping technology can also lead to spread of misinformation and fake news.

Individuals may use face swap apps to create content that is offensive, harmful, or disrespectful to others, even if it's intended as a joke. (Source: Freepik)

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Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed in the US against the viral face-swapping application Reface for commercially exploiting photos of celebrities. The Reface application uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create hyper-realistic face swaps. The app allows anyone to digitally paste a photograph of any individual’s face onto a picture or video of another individual. There are several such applications available for free over app stores.

While face swapping apps are meant for harmless fun, its potential threats came to the fore earlier this year when a scamster used this technology to impersonate the victim’s close friend and duped him of over 4.3 million yuan (approx. Rs 5 crore).

Here are some dangers of AI face swap technology:

Rise in misinformation: One of the most significant dangers of AI face swap is the spread of misinformation and fake news. These applications successfully manipulate videos and images and create content that appears to be genuine.

Access to sensitive data: By impersonating others, fraudsters can easily gain unauthorised access to sensitive data and commit crimes using someone else’s identity.

Cyberbullying and harassment: It is possible for cyber bullies to manipulate the pictures and videos of people and harass them.

Revenge porn: Perpetrators can use AI face swap to create explicit content with the faces of non-consenting individuals, causing emotional and psychological harm.

These dangers underscore the importance of ethical and responsible use of AI face swap technology, as well as the need for strong regulations and safeguards to mitigate its negative impacts.

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AI face swap applications, often used for harmless fun, can also pose certain threats and risks for users:

Privacy concerns: When individuals use AI face swap apps for fun, they may inadvertently share images or videos of themselves or others without consent, raising privacy issues.

Potential for abuse: Individuals may use face swap apps to create content that is offensive, harmful, or disrespectful to others, even if it’s intended as a joke.

Loss of control: Sharing images or videos with AI face swap apps on social media platforms means relinquishing some control over how that content is used or misused by others.

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It’s important to use such technology responsibly and respect the privacy and consent of individuals featured in the content.

Ankita Deshkar

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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