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AI Editing Tools Are Fuelling Disinformation

July 19, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Even as fact-checkers try to wrap their heads around AI-generated images, AI editing tools that were a precursor are being misused to spread disinformation. Read on!

Instagram Is Full Of Fake Accounts Posing As Smriti Singh And Husband Captain Anshuman Singh

Multiple fake accounts on Instagram are impersonating Smriti Singh, wife of deceased Kirti Chakra awardee Captain Anshuman Singh. These accounts are posting false content about Singh, even as the police are investigating a case in connection to derogatory content posted about her.

Exhibit 1:

The account @smriti_capt.anshuman.singh with about 8,000 followers has been posting photoshopped pictures of Smriti and Anshuman, showing them next to each other with captions explaining how much Singh misses her husband.

Exhibit 2:

Another account created 7 July 2024 posted videos of a Germany-based influencer Reshma Sebastian showing her dancing and posing for the camera, making it seem like it was Smriti. The reels posted by the fake accounts, featuring Sebastian were also shared by many men's rights organisation with captions passing remarks against Singh and claiming she is a gold digger who has abandoned her late husband's parents and disappeared with the award money; allegations made the father of Anshuman Singh against her.

The Observation:

All the accounts Decode’s Nivedita Niranjankumar found were created in July, days after the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace time gallantry award for Anshuman Singh was collected by his wife Smriti and his mother.

Disclaimer:

While we could not independently verify who runs this account, we were able to confirm that the videos being used by the viral fake Instagram account, including those showing a distraught Smriti, match the ones on this account.

Forget AI-Generated Images, AI Editing Tools Are Fuelling Disinformation

🔖 AI [Mis]use: Artificial intelligence (AI) enabled cheap editing tools and apps, while not new, are being weaponised to create cheapfakes adding another layer of complexity in the fight against disinformation.

For instance: Following the assassination attempt on former United States President Donald Trump, an image from the incident claiming to show three Secret Service agents smiling while escorting Trump to safety, was shared on X. The text accompanying the photo, which insinuated that the shooting was staged, was most likely altered using FaceApp - an AI photo editing app.

Expert’s take: Henry Ajder, an expert on synthetic media, told Decode’s Karen Rebelo that AI editing tools follow in the footsteps of ‘cheapfakes’ or fake images or videos created using crude tech. However, Ajder, who is also the founder of Latent Space Advisory, said that off-the-shelf editing tools can impact how people remember authentic pieces of media.

Consultant Turns Musician With Suno AI. Who Gets The Copyright?

🔖 Suno AI, a generative artificial intelligence music programme designed to produce lifelike songs, offers an affordable solution for aspiring musicians and poets to turn their lyrics into songs, with subscription options transferring copyright to users.

  • The company faces lawsuits from major music labels, including Sony and Universal, for alleged copyright infringement, claiming the AI software exploits existing recorded works.

  • In India, copyright ownership of AI-generated music is ambiguous, with the law potentially recognising either the AI program creator or the user as the author.

Read Hera Rizwan’s story.

🚫 Fake News You Almost Fell For

🔍 A video of former United States President Donald Trump bowing his head in prayer with his eyes closed during the ongoing Republican National Convention was shared with a false claim that he dozed off on camera. Read 🔗 Anmol Alphonso’s ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 A video of three sadhus being caught and asked to identify themselves in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut was circulating with false communal claims that they hid their Muslim identity. 🔗 Jagriti Trisha ↗️ debunked the claim.

🔍 Did TIME magazine issue a cover titled 'Man of the Ear' featuring Donald Trump where his right ear is seen covered with a dressing? Find out in 🔗 Srijit Das’ ↗️ fact-check.

🅱️ Recommends

📖 This week's recommendation is: Study shows impact of misleading headlines from mainstream news

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