Misinformation and deceptive content have become prevalent challenges, especially in the last few weeks during the #Rejectfinancebill2024 and we’re pretty sure there’re more to come.
Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news to deceive readers for various purposes, including political manipulation, financial gain, or even social disruption whereas deep fakes are video or audio recordings that use artificial intelligence to manipulate or fabricate content. In most cases, unless you are keen, you are less likely to know they are fake news.
This article will highlight some of the key indicators to spot fake news and deep fakes.
1. Evaluate the Source of your news
Before you share news, confirm if the news source is reputable. Reliable news organizations have established credibility and they’re highly effective in factchecking news and they’re less likely to share fake news. Also, authentic news websites usually have clear contact details and an editorial team listed.
2. Inspect the Author
Verify the author’s credentials and past work. Are they a recognized journalist or expert in the field?. Articles without bylines or with anonymous authors, can be a first red flag.
3. Analyze the Headlines
Fake news sources often uses sensational or shocking headlines to grab a readers attention. Headlines may be exaggerated or misrepresent the content of the article.
4. Check the Date
Another thing to note is the dates. Ensure the news is current and relevant. Outdated news can sometimes resurface, and in as much as they are accurate, they turn out to be misleading to the readers.
5. Cross-Verify Information
Verify the news from multiple credible sources to confirm its authenticity .Also, use fact-checking websites like PesaCheck, FactCheck.org, and to validate the news.
6. Be on the lookout for Visual Inconsistencies
Deep fakes may have unnatural blinking, mouth movements, or facial expressions or even inconsistent lighting and shadows on the face or some parts to indicate manipulation.
7. Pay Attention to Audio Quality
You can check if the audio is perfectly synchronized with the lip movements. You can also listen for unnatural intonations, robotic tones, or audio glitches to identify the deep fakes.
8. Examine Background Details
Altered backgrounds might appear blurry or distorted, especially around the edges of the face.
Traces of inconsistencies between the subject and the background, such as mismatched lighting or shadows can be a clear indicator of deep fakes.
9. Use Technology and Tools
When handling audio or video news, e always employ tools like Deepware Scanner, Sensity AI, or Microsoft’s Video Authenticator to analyze and detect deep fakes. You can as well check the metadata of the video for any signs of editing or manipulation.
Lastly, only trust news from trustworthy Source to confirm the authenticity of the videos.
Fake news and deep fakes pose significant threats to society as they spread false information and manipulate peoples perceptions. By being aware of the signs and adopting a skeptical approach to consuming information, you can protect yourself from being deceived.