How Switzerland is tackling the AI deepfake menace

Online deepfakes intend to vilify, mislead or sow confusion and Switzerland is one of many countries seeking to contain the growing problem. Newer artificial intelligence (AI) tools have drastically increased the scale and scope of deepfakes. The latest AI models make it easy for anyone to create fake images, video or audio content from their own homes without specialist skills. Recent examples of widespread deepfakes include so-called "nudifier" apps that generate naked pictures of people, including minors. Fraudsters have been conning people out of money using videos of celebrities that are manipulated to show them endorsing fake investments schemes. Politicians are also increasingly using deepfakes to promote their own images or attack opponents. And there has been growing alarm at foreign states, like Russia, using AI-generated deepfakes to disrupt democratic systems in western countries. Cybersecurity company DeepStrike says the number of detected cases surged from 500,000 in ...