People attending the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2019 were in for quite a twist when, during a panel event featuring Facebook’s Head of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, a “Skype call” from US President Donald Trump himself, which turned out to be a deepfake video, was played to the audience.
"No one loves democracy as much as I do - that’s why God elected me", the caller said, with Boston Globe columnist Indira Lakshmanan revealing that the video was “made to show danger” posed by AI and disinformation to elections and politics.
BREAKING~Trump does live interview from #G20Summit, taking to Copenhagen @AoDemocracies Summit. He says “no one loves democracy as much as I do-that’s why God elected me”....Or did he??
— Indira Lakshmanan (@Indira_L) 28 июня 2019 г.
It’s a #deepfake made to show danger AI & disinfo pose to elections/politics #CDS2019 pic.twitter.com/STGgFuVqHT
Our AI-powered #Deepfake Donald Trump gave his first "interview" at @AoDemocracies Copenhagen Democracy Summit this morning. https://t.co/yhvOg4JElg
— Faculty (@faculty_ai) 28 июня 2019 г.
News of this development quickly sent ripples across social media, with many taking note of the occurrence and what it might portend.
Deepfake Skype call with Donald Trump here at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Now debate with @nick_clegg about Facebook's policies on this #CDS2019 pic.twitter.com/loVWUohxeb
— Johan Farkas (@farkasjohan) 28 июня 2019 г.
Donald Trump is on the phone ! Or...he's not ? #Deepfake #CDS2019 #defenddemocracy pic.twitter.com/jaUhMJXOlL
— Nove (@NoveBrussels) 28 июня 2019 г.
Of course, tech impact on democracy up first! Includes @facebook, former Homeland Security chief ++ kicks off with deep fake demo with Trump #CDS2019 #DefendDemocracy pic.twitter.com/vqzVBhOEY3
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) 28 июня 2019 г.
Earlier this month, MIT Technology Review revealed that a team of researchers in the United States managed to develop a new digital forensics technique that can effectively protect world leaders and celebrities from deepfake videos of themselves.
