Celebs Who Became Victims Of Deepfake Technology: Rashmika Mandanana, Taylor Swift & More

With the advancements in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are exposed to new threats and challenges. From identity theft to frauds, the new deepfake technology is a grave matter of concern as it seems to blur the lines between what's real and what's fake, and thus increases cyber crime activities. Celebrities around the world are becoming the first victims as a lot of their videos and pictures are available in public domain which eventually allows east fabrication.

Deepfake technology meaning:

Deepfake technology is a form of synthetic media that involves using artificial intelligence to create or manipulate video, audio, or images to present something that did not actually occur. It typically involves superimposing existing images or videos onto source images or videos using machine learning techniques, often resulting in highly realistic but fabricated content.

Celebs who became victims of Deepfake technology:

1. Rashmika Mandanna

Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, who is best known for her work in Hindi and Telugu film industries has recently fallen prey to this technology. A video of her in a lift wearing shorts and a vest went viral. However, it was later found out that the girl in the video is actually a British-Indian girl from the UK.

2. Bella Hadid

A video of model Bella Hadid expressing solidarity with Israel has gained significant traction online. However, the audio in the video has been manipulated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to make it appear as if Hadid is endorsing Israel. The original video, dating back to 2018, actually features her discussing Lyme disease.

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3. Kristen Bell

American actress Kristen Bell, known for 'The Good Place', 'Veronica Mars' and 'Bad Moms' was shocked when she saw some pornographic videos circulating online featuring her face. She came forward to alert everyone that her face was used on someone else’s body and were released without her consent. She said, "it’s hard to think about that. I wish that the internet were a little bit more responsible and a little bit kinder.”

4. Taylor Swift

A video circulating online features a deepfake of Taylor Swift effortlessly conversing in fluent Mandarin, created using a tool developed by the Chinese startup HeyGen. In the footage, Swift appears on a talk show, discussing her recent travels and musical influences in Mandarin, with her lip movements perfectly synchronized. While some Chinese internet users were amazed by the technology's realism, others expressed concerns about its potential misuse.

5. Tom Hanks

On the 1st of October, renowned actor Tom Hanks used his Instagram platform to notify his followers about an alarming incident involving the misuse of deepfake technology. He uncovered that a dental plans advertisement utilized a misleading deepfake rendition of him, prompting him to caution, "Be careful, this has nothing to do with me."

Deepfakes have raised concerns about the potential for misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion, as they can be used to create convincing fake videos or images of public figures saying or doing things that never actually happened. However, the technology itself has also been used for entertainment purposes, such as in movies or videos, where it can be used to create special effects or to seamlessly insert actors into scenes.

(Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan Reacts To Rashmika Mandanna's Deepfake Video That Goes Viral)