UPSC Issue at a Glance is a new initiative of UPSC Essentials to consolidate your prelims and mains exam preparation on an issue that has been in the news. Every Thursday, cover a new topic in Q&A format, and don’t miss MCQs, Points to Ponder, and key takeaways. Also, don’t forget to check the answers of MCQs towards the end of the article. Let’s get started! If you missed the UPSC Issue at a Glance | Heatwaves: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains from the Indian Express, read it here. 🚨 The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the May edition of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 What is the issue? This election season, the widespread misuse of deepfakes made the fight against misinformation more difficult. You may have seen a deepfake video of actors Ranveer Singh or Aamir Khan promoting a particular political party in this election. Thus, it becomes important to understand the issue of deepfakes from a broader perspective. UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, General Science. Mains: GS-III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life, Awareness in the fields of IT, Computers, robotics. Other areas of relevance: UPSC Aspirants will find it useful in Essays, and Current affairs for their Personality tests. What will you learn from this article? What are deepfakes and how do we identify them? What are the concerns associated with the deepfakes? What are the global initiatives related to deepfakes? What initiatives are taken by India to regulate deepfakes? What measures should be taken to combat the misuse of deepfakes and ensure digital trust? Question 1: What are deepfakes and how do we identify them? Answer: Deepfakes constitute fake content — often in the form of videos but also other media formats such as pictures or audio — created using powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tools. It is an amalgamation of the words “deep learning” and “fake” and it means fabricated videos generated from existing face-swapping techniques and technology. — They are called deepfakes because they use deep learning technology, a branch of machine learning that applies neural net simulation to massive data sets, to create fake content. It employs a branch of artificial intelligence where if a computer is fed enough data, it can generate fakes that behave much like a real person. — The application of a technology called Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), which uses two AI algorithms — where one generates the fake content and the other grades its efforts, teaching the system to be better — has helped come up with more accurate deepfakes. Do you Know? The origin of the word “deepfake” can be traced back to 2017 when a Reddit user, with the username “deepfakes”, posted explicit videos of celebrities. How can such deepfakes be spotted? Ankita Deshkar writes- With AI technology improvements, deepfakes are becoming common on the internet and can be challenging to detect. Here’s how such deepfakes can be spotted: 1. Unnatural Eye Movements: Deepfake videos often exhibit unnatural eye movements or gaze patterns. 2. Mismatches in Color and Lighting: Deepfake creators may have difficulty replicating accurate colour tones and lighting conditions. 3. Compare and Contrast Audio Quality: Deepfake videos often use AI-generated audio that may have subtle imperfections. 4. Strange Body Shape or Movement: Deepfakes can sometimes result in unnatural body shapes or movements. 5. Artificial Facial Movements: Deepfake software may not always accurately replicate genuine facial expressions. 6. Unnatural Positioning of Facial Features: Deepfakes may occasionally exhibit distortions or misalignments in these features, which can be a sign of manipulation. 7. Awkward Posture or Physique: Deepfakes may struggle to maintain a natural posture or physique. Points to Ponder: — What is artificial intelligence (AI)? — What is the difference between deepfakes and shallow fakes? — What is the difference between AI and generative AI? — What is machine learning? — What is Artificial General Intelligence? Post Read Question: Prelims (1) Consider the following: 1. Eye movement 2. Body movements 3. Audio quality 4. Facial Movement How many of the above are used to identify deepfakes? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (2) With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Source: Explained: Why is it becoming more difficult to detect deepfake videos, and what are the implications?, ‘Deepfake’ video showing Rashmika Mandanna: How to identify fake videos, UPSC Essentials | One word a day — Deepfakes, Does the UN need a watchdog to fight deepfakes and other AI threats?, More than deepfakes, shallow fakes should worry everyone) Question 2: What are the concerns associated with the deepfakes? Answer: Deepfake technology has potential applications in a variety of fields, including entertainment, education, and healthcare. However, one must also recognise the associated risks. Here are some concerns associated with the deepfakes: 1. Threat to Privacy: Deepfake poses an alarming threat to the personal security and privacy of millions through audio-visual manipulation tactics. This includes the usage of deepfakes for purposes of identity theft and synthetic pornography. Deepfakes directly violate the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. According to ‘The State of Deepfakes 2020’ report- Over 85,000 harmful, expert-made deepfake videos were detected up to December 2020 alone. — The misuse of sexual deepfakes or Synthetic Sexually Explicit Material is not limited to self-gratification but can also be used to harass and blackmail victims of such abuse. 2. Threat to healthcare and national security: According to WEF- Deepfake technology can be employed to alter medical scans, create fake tumours or remove real ones, or manipulate satellite images to fabricate entire geographical features or deepfake geography. Thus, the implications are profound, posing risks not only to personal privacy but also to various sectors, including healthcare and national security. 3. Political misuse: Another equally worrying ramification is the creation and dissemination of morphed videos of elected representatives and public figures in a political sphere already reeling from an avalanche of disinformation and polarisation. 4. Erode trust in journalistic institutions: Deepfakes, as compared to other synthetic media and fake news, have a more pernicious effect by fostering a zero-trust culture where individuals are unable or unwilling to discern fact from fiction. — Since employing deepfakes as a tool in political campaigning is gaining steam, the epistemological chaos created by deepfakes can cause voters to remain within their partisan bubbles, relying solely on politicians and news sources that align with their political beliefs. This can lead to an irrevocable breakdown of healthy democratic debate, erode trust in journalistic institutions, and inflict irreparable damage on the reputation of prominent individuals, including elected officials. 5. Judgement dilemma : Nishant Shah writes- “The biggest change that deepfakes have introduced is not about the nature of information but about our capability to trust our own judgement of this information.” “With deepfakes, the focus is often on managing the production, circulation, and reception of this information. But real attention has to be given to an extraordinary condition that we have naturalised over time: A condition where we are unable to trust our own decision on whether something is true or not. Even when we have done all the verifications and come up with an answer, the question remains: Can I trust my analysis of this information?” Points to Ponder: — How does the increasing accessibility of generative AI present opportunities? — What are the potential threats posed by AI to international peace and security? Post Read Question: To comprehend why the global and local regulation of deepfake technology must be expedited, one needs to delve deeper into the consequences of the misuse of deepfakes and its societal implications. Discuss. (Source: Does the UN need a watchdog to fight deepfakes and other AI threats? , With deepfakes getting better and more alarming, seeing is no longer believing, Deepfakes in elections: They have shaken our faith in our own judgement ) Question 3: What are the global initiatives related to deepfakes? Answer: The rise of deepfakes is an important reminder of the exponential evolution of AI and the problems it poses to national and international governance. Thus, combating the challenge posed by the unregulated use of deepfakes requires an amalgamation of technological innovations and legislative solutions. There is currently no global regulatory framework to govern the use of deepfakes. However, some countries have taken steps towards the regularisation of AI and deepfake technology. Do you Know? World’s first ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit was held in November 2023 in Bletchley, England Bletchley Declaration — Agreed by 28 countries, including the US, UK, and China, Bletchley Declaration is the first global pact on tackling frontier AI risks. The declaration lays out plans for greater transparency from AI developers regarding safety practices and more scientific collaboration on understanding AI’s risks. European Union’s AI law — The European Union (EU) has unveiled its comprehensive rulebook for governing the use of AI technologies. Under the Act, general-purpose AI systems and the models they’re built on must meet specific transparency requirements, including compliance with EU copyright law and publishing detailed summaries of the training data used. And for the most powerful models with potential “systemic risks,” there are additional safeguards like mandatory model evaluations and incident reporting. — The Act also aims to tackle the issue of deepfakes by making it mandatory to label when content has been artificially generated or altered. United States — The U.S. introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its mission to counter deepfake technology. Other Initiatives Isha Prakash and Anusha Shah writes- — AI and market-driven solutions will shape deepfake regulation. Facebook’s Deepfake Detection Challenge aimed towards encouraging and incentivising innovation in this regard, is a positive step forward. — Operation Minerva uses technology to compare and detect deepfakes by cross-referencing with their catalogue of digitally fingerprinted videos, alerting users if a potentially doctored version of the existing media is detected. — It has become apparent that collaborative effort is indispensable. Nina Schick, author and expert in Generative AI believes that technologists, domain-specific experts, policy officials and lawmakers must all come together to combat this misuse of deepfakes. Points to Ponder: — What is the Global AI Governance Initiative? — What is New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence? — What are the key takeaways of Bletchley Park Declaration? — What do you understand by the term “Frontier AI”? — What are the risks associated with regulating AI? Post Read Question: (3) Consider the following statements with regard to the Bletchley Park Declaration: 1. The declaration was signed by 28 countries. 2. Frontier AI is defined as highly capable foundation generative AI models that could possess dangerous capabilities that can pose severe risks to public safety. 3. The United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and India are not signatories to the declaration. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Source: Does the UN need a watchdog to fight deepfakes and other AI threats? , EU adopts landmark AI law: Everything you need to know, With deepfakes getting better and more alarming, seeing is no longer believing , UK’s AI Safety Summit: 6 key takeaways on future of artificial intelligence, AI Summit: Why new global pact on tackling Artificial Intelligence risks is a big deal) Question 4. What are the initiatives taken by India to regulate deepfakes? Answer: India is working on its own AI regulation framework, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister for Electronics & Technology announced, and they’ll likely be out in June or July 2024. — In India, sections of the Information Technology Act 2000, criminalise the publication and transmission of intimate photos of any person without their consent and deal with the obligations of intermediaries. — Provisions of the Copyright Act 1957, concerning the doctrine of fair dealing and right to integrity can be applied. Furthermore, deepfakes directly violate the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. — If effectively implemented, privacy laws such as the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill could be the most effective means of regulating deepfakes in India. Centre advisory to social media platforms over deepfakes — The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has sent advisories to social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, to take down misleading content generated through artificial intelligence – deepfakes – within 24 hours. — The advisory has reiterated existing legal provisions that platforms have to follow as online intermediaries. It has mentioned Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which entails punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resources with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh. — The advisory is also understood to have mentioned Rule 3(2)(b) of the Information Technology Rules, under which social media platforms are required to take down content in the nature of impersonation, including artificially morphed images of an individual, within 24 hours of the receipt of a complaint. — In February, 2023, the IT ministry also issued advisories to the chief compliance officers of various social media platforms after it received reports regarding the potential use of AI-generated deepfakes that were manipulating people by generating doctored content. Points to Ponder: — What is the Digital India Act? — What is the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill? — What is India's artificial intelligence (AI) mission? Post Read Question: Prelims (4) With reference to deepfakes, consider the following statements: 1. Deepfakes directly violate the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. 2. Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which entails punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resources with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh but this does not include deepfakes. 3. It is called deepfakes because they use deep learning technology, a branch of machine learning that applies neural net simulation to massive data sets, to create fake content. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Mains What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? (UPSC CSE 2021) (Source: UPSC Essentials | One word a day — Deepfakes, Centre issues advisory to social media platforms over deepfakes after viral ‘Rashmika Mandanna’ video , Draft AI regulation framework to be released by July: Rajeev Chandrasekhar) Question 5: What measures should be taken to combat the misuse of deepfakes and ensure digital trust? Answer: It has become apparent that collaborative effort is indispensable, and to combat the issues related to deepfakes, technologists, domain-specific experts, policy officials, and lawmakers must all come together. The following measures can be taken to combat the misuse of deepfakes: 1. Improve deepfake detection technologies: To address the emerging threats of deepfakes, we must continue to develop and improve deepfake detection technologies. This can be done through the use of more sophisticated algorithms and the development of new methods that can identify deepfakes based on their context, metadata, or other factors. 2. Promote media literacy and critical thinking: By promoting media literacy and educating the public on the threats of deepfakes and how to spot them, we can reduce the impact of misuse of deepfakes and build digital trust. 3. UN agency on AI: According to Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli Head of Global and Emerging Risks , Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) (writing on weforum.org)- “AI represents a dual-use technology even more transformative than electricity, and therefore has profound international security implications. The UN Secretary-General recently expressed support for the establishment of a UN agency on AI, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Such an agency, focused on knowledge and endowed with regulatory powers, could enhance co-ordination among burgeoning AI initiatives worldwide and promote global governance on AI.” 4. Regulation of deepfake technology: Governments and regulatory organisations can help shape policies that not only regulate deepfake technology but also promote transparent, accountable, and responsible technology development and use. Do you Know? Digital trust is individuals’ expectation that digital technologies and services – and the organizations providing them – will protect all stakeholders’ interests and uphold societal expectations and values. Deepfakes pose increasingly serious concerns as AI advances. However, with the development of new detection technologies and continued emphasis on education and ethical considerations, we can reduce these risks and ensure that deepfake technology is used for the greater good. Points to Ponder: — What is a digital trust framework? Post Read Question: What are the challenges associated with the regulation of deepfakes? How individuals efforts can contribute in building digital trust in the society? (Source: How can we combat the worrying rise in the use of deepfakes in cybercrime?, Digital Trust ) Prelims Answer Key (d) All four (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (b) Only two (c) All three Edited by Manas Srivastava Also Read UPSC Issue at a Glance | Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and India: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains UPSC Issue at a Glance | Understanding Emergency: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains UPSC Issue at a Glance | Office of Speaker of Lok Sabha: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains UPSC Issue at a Glance | Food Safety : 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains UPSC Issue at a Glance | Iran-Israel Conflict: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains UPSC Issue at a Glance | Road Safety: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains UPSC Issue at a Glance | G7 and India: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
