What is the harm in “deepfakes” — and what are they doing to democracy?
Feb 7, 2024
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The podcast explores the rising concerns surrounding deepfakes and their impact on democracy, examining the ethical complexities, misogyny, propaganda, and personal harm caused by manipulated media. They discuss the multifaceted nature of deep fakes, focusing on the unique harm caused by deception through images or videos, and the implications on trust, truth, and societal cohesion.
The Moral and Epistemological Implications of Deepfakes
Deepfakes, fueled by generative AI technology, present a multifaceted challenge. They raise profound concerns by hijacking faces, breaching personal identity, and causing direct harm to individuals, such as in the Taylor Swift pornographic deepfakes incident. The violation of a person's face, a unique aspect of identity imbued with authenticity, leads to immediate and profound moral repercussions. These manipulations create a danger that extends beyond surface deception, striking at the core of personal agency and dignity.
Confirmation Bias and Epistemological Damage
The emergence of deepfakes intersects with fundamental human tendencies like confirmation bias, which plays a vital role in our survival. However, in the era of deepfakes, this inclination can lead to significant epistemological damage. Social media platforms intentionally exploit confirmation bias to keep users engaged, amplifying cognitive biases and pushing users towards the peripheral route of information processing. This structural design contributes to an environment where perception management takes precedence over substantive engagement, posing a threat to shared reality and critical thinking.
The Guardianship of the Eyes: A Return to Prudential Ethics
Deepfakes challenge the age-old advice of custodia oculorum, emphasizing the guardianship of the eyes and the prudential care in what is seen. In a visual culture dominated by deepfakes and manipulated realities, the inability to unsee fantastical or deceptive content engenders ethical concerns. Once certain imagery takes root in perception, it can blur the lines between fantasy and reality, posing risks to individual discernment and communal well-being. The proliferation of deepfakes underscores the importance of prudential ethical considerations to navigate the evolving digital landscape.
Over the last 18 months, enormously powerful generative AI tools have been placed in the hands of anyone who wants them; as a consequence, the internet and our social media feeds have been inundated with wholly or partially synthetic content.
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