United States: CFWIJ Alarmed by Rise of Deepfake Videos Impersonating Women News Anchors, Urges Action on AI Threats to Press Freedom
News presenters are increasingly being targeted by AI-generated deepfakes
Location: United States
Date: October 30, 2023
In a disturbing incident highlighting the growing threats posed by artificial intelligence to media integrity, Ksenia Turkova, a journalist with VOA’s Russian Service, became the latest target of a deepfake video disseminated on Facebook. Over recent months deepfakes featuring prominent news anchors have been spreading online. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns this malicious use of technology and calls for heightened vigilance and regulatory measures to safeguard press freedom.
On October 30, 2023, VOA’s Russian Service discovered a deepfake video featuring its journalist Ksenia Turkova, seemingly presenting a news segment on cryptocurrency. The video used AI-generated content, imitating Turkova's voice and appearance convincingly. The deepfake, disguised as a legitimate news broadcast, was, in fact, a promotional piece for a trading product, underscoring the potential for AI to manipulate public perception through disinformation.
“I felt vulnerable, and I felt that my reputation, my trustworthiness as a journalist can be in danger,” Turkova says about the video. “I don’t want the trust of the audience to be in danger.”
VOA has filed a complaint with Facebook, where the deepfake video was initially posted, but the resolution remains pending.
“I felt vulnerable, and I felt that my reputation, my trustworthiness as a journalist can be in danger”
Deepfakes of Press a Global Concern
The incident raises alarming concerns about the manipulation of journalistic content and the risk of spreading disinformation, leading to public distrust in media outlets. This case is not isolated, as deepfake impersonations have targeted journalists from various reputable news outlets globally.
On October 12, Forbes reported on a popular TikTok account that creates and spreads fake news segments featuring AI-generated appearances from renowned American journalists, including a deepfake video of CBS News anchor Anne-Marie Green discussing a school shooting.
Amidst the escalation of conflict between Israel and Gaza, manipulated audio undermining CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward's reporting spread quickly online. On October 4, CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King revealed she was the subject of an AI-generated clip that featured her promoting a product she had never used.
In South Africa, deepfake videos featuring anchors Bongiwe Zwane and Francis Herd, including a fake Elon Musk, were part of a fraudulent investment scheme. These videos, featuring the SABC News logo, garnered significant attention, with one receiving over 123,000 views on YouTube.
While in Europe, a deepfake audio clip purportedly featured a phone conversation between journalist Monika Tódová and Michal Šimečka, the leader of Progressive Slovakia, depicted them plotting to manipulate the election results, with discussions about buying votes from the Roma community.
Regulations
The deepfake phenomenon underscores the pressing need for comprehensive regulations on artificial intelligence. The tactic aims to exploit the credibility of news anchors to disseminate false information, creating confusion and eroding public trust in media sources.
Recent executive orders signed by U.S. President Joe Biden have laid out initial guidelines for AI companies. In the EU, the Digital Services Act aims to combat disinformation online. The act introduced new rules to make platforms more proactive and transparent in moderating disinformation.
However, experts argue that more extensive measures are essential to prevent the misuse of open-source AI systems by foreign governments or malicious actors.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned by the escalating use of AI-generated deepfake videos targeting female news anchors. This alarming trend threatens press freedom and the integrity of journalism. The recent incident involving Ksenia Turkova exemplifies the severity of this threat. Turkova's experience highlights the personal and professional vulnerability journalists face due to these manipulations.
The recent executive orders by U.S. President Joe Biden and the EU's Digital Services Act are steps in the right direction, but more comprehensive actions are required. We urge governments, technology companies, and media organizations to unite in establishing robust regulations to combat the malicious use of AI in media. These efforts should include proactive measures by social media platforms to detect and remove deepfake content and support journalists in protecting their images and voices from misuse.
We call for an immediate response from tech giants like Meta, Alphabet, and Twitter to prioritize the removal of deepfakes involving journalists and develop advanced reporting tools. This collaboration between regulatory bodies and tech companies is crucial in maintaining the integrity of journalism and protecting journalists against the growing threat of AI manipulation.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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