Defending Informational Sovereignty by Detecting Deepfakes: Risks and Opportunities of an AI-Based Detector for Deepfake-Based Disinformation and Illegal Activities

Abstract

This paper will first investigate possible contributions that an AI-based detector for deepfakes could make to the challenge of responding to disinformation as a threat to democracy. Second, this paper will also investigate the implications of such a tool - which was developed, among other reasons, for security purposes - for the emerging European discourse on digital sovereignty in a global environment. While disinformation is surely not a new topic, recent technological developments relating to AI-generated deepfakes have increased the manipulative potential of video and audio-based contents spread online, making it a specific but important current challenge in the global and interconnected information context.