Pro-Kremlin deepfake videos of Ukrainian lawmakers have gained significant traction, with 130,000 views in two weeks, according to NewsGuard. The videos depict Andriy Levus, a former deputy head of the Ukrainian Security Service, and Ivan Yunakov, a member of Zelenskyy's party, expressing sentiments of peace and mourning territorial losses. These deepfakes feature AI artifacts such as unnatural blinking, flat voices, and stiff facial expressions, which are telltale signs of synthetic media.
The videos are part of a broader trend of AI-generated disinformation, with similar deepfakes having previously surfaced in 2022 that falsely portrayed President Zelenskyy as advocating for surrender. While that earlier video was considered technically crude by today’s standards, the recent deepfakes demonstrate the evolving sophistication of AI propaganda. The insidious nature of these videos lies in their ability to spread regardless of whether they are debunked or not, as they still erode trust in public information and undermine democratic discourse.
According to NewsGuard, the deepfake videos are part of a strategic effort to manipulate public perception and sow discord. The use of AI-generated content to spread misleading messages highlights the growing challenge of disinformation in the digital age. The incident underscores the need for improved detection mechanisms and public awareness to counter the spread of such content.
Source: thedecoder
