Glossary · Deepfake

Deepfake

AI-generated synthetic media (video, image, or audio) designed to depict a real person saying or doing something they did not.

Full Definition

A deepfake is media generated or substantially altered by AI to portray a real person fabricating an event. Modern deepfakes — generated by diffusion models and audio-cloning systems — are now capable of producing minutes of convincing video from a few seconds of training material scraped from a podcast or interview. As of 2025 they are a routine attack vector against public figures and executives. Deepfake-driven crises require a specialised response: authentication of the original genuine source material, coordinated takedown across the platforms hosting the fake, public statements that establish the timeline and context, and — increasingly — proactive deployment of provenance signals (C2PA content credentials, watermarks) on the subject's real media so future fakes are easier to debunk. Pre-emptive deepfake defence — getting ahead of synthetic media that hasn't been made yet — is now part of standard reputation work for high-net-worth individuals.

In practice

  • A doctored video of a CEO appears on Telegram showing them announcing a merger that doesn't exist; the stock moves before the fake is taken down.
  • An AI-generated voice clip of a celebrity is shared on TikTok appearing to say something racist; response involves audio-forensic analysis, public denial, and platform escalation across 15 services.

Also known as

synthetic media · AI-generated impersonation · video forgery