AI Deepfakes and AI-Based Blackmail

The rapid advancements made in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are stirring a lot of concern among cybersecurity specialists. As the technology gets more and more sophisticated, so do AI deepfakes, which are no longer used just for fun. What seemed to be an entertaining trend just a few years back, has now become one of the main reasons behind blackmailers’ activity. AI generators are already able to produce realistic and lifelike content, which poses a major threat when used wrongfully.

In this article, we dive deep into the topic of how AI-based blackmail utilizes fake photos, audio recordings, and videos. We also go through modern methods of mitigating these risks.

What Is Deepfake Technology?

According to Britannica, the term “deepfake” was first used in 2017 as a name for a subreddit, where users posted videos based on face-swapping technology. What seemed like great entertainment, soon became a new method of spreading adult content, by inserting celebrities’ portraits into existing NSFW videos.

As deepfakes are forged materials based on deep learning techniques, they have become more and more advanced over the years. This technology now utilizes Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). These networks’ work is based on two competing neural networks. One of them generates fabricated material, while the other assesses its genuineness. 

Advancements made in GANs lead to improving the overall quality of the deepfakes over time. As AI steps into the game, it fuels the technology. You might remember the viral deepfake photos of Pope Francis in a puffer jacket or Donald Trump being handcuffed by the police. These already quite convincing pictures were generated in 2023—only time can tell how far this technology will lead us.

The Rise of Blackmail Using AI Deepfakes

Even though blackmailers have been around the Internet for years, cyberbullies keep on changing their approach to intimidating their victims. With the rise of AI deepfakes, criminals have started to utilize this technology to put their game to a whole new level. Blackmailers find it a useful tool to easily extort money, harm reputations, and influence public opinion with the capacity to generate convincing false information. 

Whenever you come across a wrongdoer, do not hesitate to report blackmail online in order to stop the crime from spreading. With AI-generated blackmail the problem is, that people often get anxious and frightened, quickly responding to the criminals’ demands. It is best not to act emotionally—instead, get professional help from cybersecurity and digital forensics experts.

AI deepfakes seem more and more lifelike, making it extremely difficult to differentiate from real content. Using such materials to blackmail people is now a common practice. Understanding how AI-based blackmail works is the key to preventing the problem from arising.

How AI-Based Blackmail Works

In their efforts to blackmail victims, cyber criminals refer to the following techniques to make their AI deepfakes even more convincing:

1. Data Collection: Blackmailers gather information about the victim, including photos, videos, or voice samples. They often find this data on social media, leaked databases, as well as publicly shared sources of information.
2. Deepfake Generation: Cyberbullies utilize state-of-the-art AI algorithms available in the latest deep machine learning models. With their help, they can manipulate the extracted data to generate highly realistic fakes.
3. Extortion and Blackmail: Attackers contact their victims, threatening them to expose the fabricated content unless the target complies with their demands. They usually request ransom money, confidential data, or other favors.
4. Distribution Coercion: If victims do not abide by the given terms, blackmailers will continue their endeavors. They might even share the AI deepfakes online on a quest to destroy their targets’ reputations.

Experts are convinced that deepfake blackmail will become more common as AI-based technologies become more widely available. One of the concern-raising issues is deepfake NSFW content, which often targets not just adults, but also teenagers. Manipulating images and videos using adult content to intimidate people is an issue that ultimately needs new regulations to fight this malice.

Legal and Ethical Challenges of AI Deepfakes

As Artificial Intelligence is getting more popular in daily use, there are still serious ethical and legal around this technology. Governments are not making much progress in terms of blocking large language models from utilizing and mimicking human-created content. AI networks often generate 1:1 copies of creations made by real people, yet legislation is still far from penalizing such acts.

Not to mention AI deepfakes, revenge posts, AI-based blackmail, and related issues. With so many gaps in regulation and enforcement, the law is unable to keep up with AI breakthroughs. The same concerns ordinary people who are often not interested in AI technology, yet they also become affected by these rising concerns.

Among the vital issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible, are:

• Absence of Legislation: It is extremely difficult to prosecute AI deepfake blackmailers when there are no specific laws condemning such actions. Many countries still seem to refuse the raise concern behind such cyber crimes.
• Burden of Proof: The more lifelike deepfake AI technology gets, the more difficult it is to tell them apart from real content. Thus, victims might find it challenging to prove to the authorities that deepfakes are, in fact, fake.
• Freedom of Speech vs. Regulation: Western societies usually strive to have more freedom of speech, which includes the liberty of online activities. Striking a balance between freedom and legislation can be more demanding than it seems.
• International Authority: Since blackmailers often operate from different jurisdictions, cross-border legislation is needed for swifter prosecution. Law enforcement activities are far more difficult when it comes to stopping cyber criminals.

A growing need exists now more than ever for regulations at both the state and international levels. Nevertheless, before governments respond to AI deepfakes and AI-based blackmail, Internet users should try to prevent such malevolence from happening to them.

How to Avoid AI-Based Blackmail?

Let us follow how individuals and companies can safeguard themselves against AI deepfakes and related blackmail attempts. Starting with a few tips for private persons:

• Limit Private Data Exposure: Disclose less personal information online, including photos, videos, voice recordings, and other media. This way you will lower your exposure and find it less likely to be targeted by AI blackmailers.
• Multi-Factor Authentication: Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to safeguard your accounts against uninvited access. Hackers will not be able to breach your safety measures to steal personal content from you.
• Keep Up to Date: Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends and new AI-based blackmail schemes that are becoming a growing concern. Knowledge is the key to staying aware of the dangers waiting for users online.
• Report AI-Based Blackmail: Whenever you fall victim to AI deepfake manipulations or know people who are faced with similar problems, seek professional advice on how to report blackmail online using the available solutions.
• Seek Legal Advice: Do not limit yourself to the in-app reporting tools, as blackmail schemes are far more complex. Get in touch with a cybersecurity specialist or a legal advisor to prepare your next steps in regaining control.

There are extra tips for companies that want to avoid AI deepfakes and blackmail online:

• Use AI Detection Tools: Integrate cybersecurity software related to deepfake detection into your existing framework.
• Train Your Employees: Educate your teams on recognizing the possible dangers of AI-based blackmail targeted at companies.
• Develop Response Plans: Create step-by-step strategies for swift reactions should your organization be ever targeted by blackmailers.
• Monitor Brand Mentions: Fight AI with AI, using tools that can monitor and spot deepfake-generated corporate content online.

The Future Fight Against AI Deepfakes and AI-Based Blackmail

The war on cyber crime is a constant effort, and there will never be a ceasefire. Cyberbullies will always find new weapons to intimidate, blackmail, and coerce their victims. Nevertheless, if we do not act to stop the current issue, we are already doomed. 

Stronger AI-related laws are among the most important factors that require governments’ urgent appeal. Extensive legislation should be created not only on the local level but also in an international society. Meanwhile, tech companies ought to develop AI deepfake detection tools, which would allow them to spot forged content more precisely.

We hope to see more public awareness campaigns, as it seems that people do not know how to respond to AI-based blackmail. Artificial Intelligence is not just a trend still to come—it is already here, and the time to act is now.