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
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