Deepfake videos of Tom Cruise set off conversation on technology's threat

The handle @deeptomcruise has released such realistic videos that were it not for the handle, the videos would be considered real by many. A resulting conversation about the negative consequences of deepfake technology has gripped social media platforms, particularly twitter. 

2 years ago on stage I was asked “when will Deepfake video/audio impact trust & be believable in social engineering?” My response then was that we were 2 years away from undetectable Deepfakes. I wish my prediction then was wrong. We need synthetic media detection + labels ASAP. pic.twitter.com/yUUOTDepYY

— Rachel Tobac (@RachelTobac) February 26, 2021

Deepfakes are especially troublesome because of the wisdom that holds videos as undisputed proof. There is gear now that deepfakes could be used not just to allege an innocent person has committed a crime but also to provide alibis for criminals. 

Deep fakes are getting scary good and taking over TikTok. Every public figure should just be on there with a verified account - even if they don’t want to make content - to make it easier to identify their fakes. Here’s Tom Cruise: pic.twitter.com/xoSJt1bvVR

— lauren white (@laurenmwhite) February 25, 2021

Although TikTok does not have a deepfake detector, companies like Microsoft are developing such tools. A website named CounterSocial is used its own AI to detect deepfakes.