486: Nina Schick | Deepfakes and the Coming Infocalypse

Disinformation

Deepfakes are emerging as powerful tools for spreading disinformation and propaganda, posing a significant threat to democratic societies. Nina Schick explains that deepfakes can erode the notion of objective reality, making it difficult for people to come together and compromise, which is essential for democracy 1. She notes that governments worldwide, including the U.S., China, and Russia, are heavily investing in artificial intelligence and synthetic media for military purposes 1. Jordan Harbinger adds that deepfakes can be used for malicious purposes like creating fake pornography, fraud, and political disinformation 2.

If you corrode the very notion that there is an objective reality, then you basically corrode the very fabric of what's holding democratic society together.

--- Nina Schick

The potential for deepfakes to be weaponized in various forms is already becoming evident, raising concerns about their impact on society.

   

Ethics

The ethical dilemmas surrounding deepfake technology are profound, particularly regarding its potential for malicious use. Jordan Harbinger highlights the risk of deepfakes being used to create non-consensual pornography, which has already become a widespread issue 3. Nina Schick points out that deepfakes can undermine the very concept of reality, leading people to retreat into virtual worlds and eroding the common basis of objective facts necessary for a functioning democracy 4.

Ultimately, you can frame this as, you know, is this going to become the end of reality?

--- Nina Schick

The dangers of deepfakes extend beyond celebrities and politicians, potentially affecting ordinary individuals and even children, making it a pressing ethical concern.