The Intercept: A devastating threat to democracy and civilization.. The US military will use deep-fake videos

The American website The Intercept published

revealing that the US Army Special Forces (SOCOM) are in the process of using deepfakes (Deepfakes) technology, after the US government has been warning for years that this technology could destabilize democratic societies and threaten civilization.

The reporter, Sam Biddle, the site's technology officer, said federal contracting documents reviewed by the site revealed that SOCOM leadership, responsible for some of the nation's most secretive military endeavors, is preparing to run propaganda and online deception campaigns using "fake videos." Controversial Deep.

He added that SOCOM's leadership outlined the advertising aspirations for the next generation in a procurement document that lists the capabilities it seeks in the near future and solicits bids from entities it believes can build them.

Fighting fire with fire

The report quoted Chris Mesirol, head of the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative at the Brookings Institution, as saying that when it comes to disinformation, the Pentagon should not fight fire with fire, adding that the United States should do everything in its power at this time, which is increasing. In it digital propaganda globally, to promote democracy by building support for shared notions of truth and reality, not embracing deepfakes that work the opposite.

Mesirol added that even if deepfakes are to be used in targeted military and intelligence operations, their use must be subject to review and oversight.

He said SOCOM, which is made up of elite units from the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force, and leads the most sensitive military operations in the world's deadliest country, usually fights in the shadows, but its reputation and fingerprints are widely known, and it is the force that killed Osama. Bin Laden in Pakistan, May 2011.

Legality of use

The report stated that while deepfakes have remained largely entertainment and pornography, the potential for more scary applications is real.

At the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a lousy fake image of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's orders to surrender began circulating on social media channels.

Ethical considerations aside, the legality of military deepfakes in the conflict, which remains an open question, is not addressed in the SOCOM document.

The public is completely losing faith

He noted that the ease of use of technology and its increasing accuracy had raised fears of an era when global audiences could no longer believe what they saw with their own eyes.

He also said that SOCOM's interest in spreading fake disinformation campaigns follows recent years of international concern about fake videos and digital deception from international adversaries, and although there is little evidence that Russia's efforts to digitally influence the 2016 election had any meaningful effect, The Pentagon has expressed interest in doubling its digital propaganda capabilities, with Special Operations Command playing a crucial role, lest America be left behind.

Sam Biddle noted that while military propaganda is as old as war itself, deepfakes have often been discussed as a unique technological menace, whose very existence is a civilizational threat.