"Malicious Actors Manipulating Photos and Videos to Create Explicit 'Deepfake' Content and Sextortion Schemes"
The FBI is warning the public about malicious actors creating synthetic content, commonly known as "deepfakes," through the manipulation of harmless photographs or videos in order to target victims. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled content creation continues to improve in terms of quality, customizability, and accessibility due to technological advancements. The FBI continues to receive reports from victims, including minors and non-consenting adults, whose photos or videos were modified to contain explicit content. The photos or videos are then shared publicly on social media or other websites to harass or extort victims. One of the practices the FBI recommends to the public when considering sharing content or engaging with individuals online is to apply privacy settings on social media accounts, including setting profiles and your friends lists as private, to limit the public exposure of photos, videos, and other personal information. This article continues to discuss the surge in sextortion victims reporting the use of fake images or videos created from content posted on their social media sites or web postings, as well as what the FBI recommends the public do when sharing content online.