The Cybercrime Sub-Directorate has issued a public alert concerning the significant rise of Deepfake technology misuse, particularly highlighted in social media advertising. These fraudulent advertisements often feature well-known journalists, news anchors, and other media personalities seemingly endorsing various pharmaceutical products, misleading viewers to make purchases.

The announcement underscores the increasing concern over this phenomenon across the entire European Union. The public is strongly urged to exercise heightened caution, resisting the urge to respond to such deceptive advertisements. Moreover, individuals are advised to consult their personal physicians regarding pharmaceutical products, instead of being swayed by potentially fabricated endorsements.

The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to the rise of deepfakes, a type of AI-generated video that can make individuals appear to say or do things they haven't, raising ethical and legal concerns. Instances range from their use in AI-generated pornography to fabricating a video of a school principal making racist remarks, and even spreading political misinformation in Venezuela. Deepfakes employ deep learning algorithms, allowing AI to synthesize realistic footage with minimal human intervention.

Creating deepfakes involves deep neural networks and face-swapping techniques, refined by Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to enhance realism. While detecting deepfakes can be challenging, clues often lie in blurred details, lighting inconsistencies, or audio-visual mismatches. Experts stress the importance of staying informed and critically analyzing content to navigate the deepfake era responsibly. While recognizing the risks, they also acknowledge the potential for beneficial applications, emphasizing the need for awareness and responsible usage of this evolving technology.