Elon Musk Deepfakes Promoting Fake Investment Platforms

NBC News reported on over 50 videos across major social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube featuring computer-manipulated images and audio of well-known personalities, including Elon Musk, Gayle King, Tucker Carlson, and Bill Maher. These deepfake videos falsely claimed that Musk had invented a technologically advanced investment platform and encouraged viewers to invest money.

• Most of the videos centered around a manipulated Elon Musk promoting a non-existent investment platform.
• Musk, the owner of Twitter, has been a popular target for scammers due to his involvement with cryptocurrencies.
• There is no evidence that Musk had any involvement with these deepfake videos.

The Evolution of Deepfake Technology

Deepfakes have been circulating online for years, with one of the first viral examples being a 2018 video where Jordan Peele impersonated former President Barack Obama. However, the technology has become significantly more accessible and advanced in recent times.

• The 2018 Obama deepfake took 56 hours to process, while modern tools can create convincing deepfakes with much fewer resources.
• Apps and websites now allow everyday users to create deepfakes, often in real-time, using their computers or smartphones.
• Celebrities and public figures are particularly susceptible to deepfake impersonations due to the abundance of online media featuring them.

The Rise of Deepfake Scams

Experts warn that deepfakes are being used in increasingly sophisticated online scams, with scammers using real-time deepfake technology to mimic celebrities during video calls with potential victims.

• Cybercrime has been steadily rising, with victims reporting a record $10.2 billion in money lost to scams and online crime to the FBI in 2022.
• Scammers have long impersonated celebrities on social media, but deepfakes allow them to take this tactic to new levels of sophistication.
• AARP's Fraud Watch Network has received reports of victims being scammed by deepfakes impersonating celebrities like Tom Brady, Alicia Keys, and members of the K-pop group BTS.

The Impact of Deepfake Scams

The rise of deepfake scams has raised concerns about the potential for widespread disinformation and the inability of viewers to distinguish between real and fake content.

• Some experts warn that the 2024 presidential election could be the first "deepfake election," with a substantial number of voters exposed to political disinformation videos.
• Social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube have policies against deceiving users for money, but enforcing these policies can be challenging.
• Victims of deepfake scams often find it difficult to contextualize the situation, as their cognitive thinking can be impaired when interacting with a perceived celebrity.

Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Concerns

The proliferation of deepfake scams highlights the need for improved cybersecurity measures and responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

• Researchers have identified online tutorials teaching would-be scammers how to create real-time deepfakes using smartphone apps.
• As AI technology continues to advance, the potential for misuse and the creation of convincing deepfakes will increase.
• Experts emphasize the importance of education and awareness campaigns to help the public recognize and avoid falling victim to deepfake scams.

Social Media Platforms' Responses

Social media platforms have begun taking steps to address the issue of deepfake scams, but challenges remain in effectively moderating and removing misleading content.

• Facebook has stated that deceiving users for money is against their policies and has removed some of the reported deepfake videos.
• TikTok has a policy requiring believable synthetic videos to be disclosed as such and has removed videos flagged by NBC News.
• YouTube initially claimed that the reported videos did not violate their policies but later removed them after further inquiry.

The Future of Deepfakes and Online Scams

As deepfake technology continues to evolve and become more accessible, experts anticipate an increase in online scams and the need for greater regulation and safeguards.

• Deepfakes have already been used for non-consensual pornography and political disinformation, raising ethical concerns.
• Governments and tech companies may need to implement stricter policies and technologies to combat deepfake misuse.
• Consumer education and media literacy efforts will be crucial in helping the public identify and avoid falling victim to deepfake scams.