Deepfakes: South Africa’s new digital threat
In South Africa, deepfake technology—AI-generated media that creates realistic but false content—poses significant threats to democracy, the economy, and personal reputations. These fabricated videos and audios can erode public trust by making it challenging to distinguish between genuine and fake information. With upcoming local government elections, there’s concern that deepfakes could be used to spread false narratives, influence voter sentiment, or discredit political figures, potentially leading to political unrest. Additionally, cybercriminals might exploit deepfakes for financial fraud, such as impersonating executives to authorize fraudulent transactions, which could destabilize economic sectors. To combat these risks, it’s essential for companies and media houses to employ AI-powered verification tools to detect manipulations, educate the public on identifying deepfakes, update cyber laws to address deepfake crimes specifically, and hold social media platforms accountable for detecting and removing such content. Proactive measures are crucial to mitigate the impact of deepfakes on South Africa’s digital security.
