Newsround has been investigating what deepfakes are and what they are used for.
Deepfakes are videos, images, or audio clips that use artificial intelligence to appear real.
They are sometimes used for entertainment and scientific research, but they can also be used to impersonate people, such as politicians or world leaders, in order to deliberately mislead people.
Read on to learn more and get top tips on how to tell if something is real.
How do deepfakes work?
Deepfakes can use artificial intelligence to imitate a person's voice or facial features. This technology uses an audio recording of someone's voice to make them say things they would never say.
You can also imitate someone's facial movements from a video of them or just a photo of their face.
Many of the deepfake videos and photos look so weird that it's easy to tell that they're fakes. However, they can look very realistic in some cases, and the technology used to create them is constantly improving.
Sometimes it can also be used for fun. You may have seen AI-generated videos laughing with your friends.
image source, Getty Images
When are deepfakes useful?
Researchers at the University of Southampton say the technology could allow people who are unable to speak, often due to medical conditions or treatment, to have their voices heard again.
Why are deepfakes dangerous?
image source, Getty Images
Deepfakes can be used to spread disinformation. This is a word people use to describe misinformation that is intentionally spread.
Deepfake videos that show celebrities or politicians saying things they never said can mislead people. It can change how people vote and make important decisions.
Because it's so realistic, it can be very difficult to tell if a video is real or not, especially if you don't know what you're looking for.
How to spot a deepfake
Ricky told BBC disinformation expert Marianna Spring. It's her job to find misinformation and figure out what's right and what's wrong.
Remember to question what you see on the internet. Especially if it seems a little strange or unusual. Use Marianna's top tips to help you figure out why someone posts a particular video or photo.
