GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019 - 16

tech talk
Everyone needs to plan for a scene like the
phone call in the Terminator II: Judgement
Day. "Why is Wolfie barking?" the Arnold
asks, knowing the dog's name is really Max.
Actor Jordan Peele created a deep"Wolfie's fine," the deepfake answers, letfake video as former President Obama
ting Arnold and young John know that, even
saying things that Obama would never say
though the voice sounds real, it's an imposter.
1. What's the secret word?
in public. Peele did it as a Public Service
David Klass, a grandparent in Hindsdale,
The "Grandpa I'm in Montreal-it's an emerAnnouncement, co-created with Buzzfeed, to
IL, suggests creating a different code word
gency-don't tell my parents and send me
warn about the danger of deepfake videos,
$5,000" is back with a vengeance. If in the past for each grandchild. Kind of like spies in the
especially with the political election season
it was "an actor" mimicking your grandchild's 1950's using a very specific string of phrases
heating up.
to identify one another. That approach could
Last June the Washington Post reported voice, now, with deepfake audio the voice on work for CEO's and their finance managers-
that deepfakes were coming and tech experts the other end of the line could literally be your you must each say a secret word before transgrandchild's voice. And if they post photos
were unprepared: "Top artificial-intelligence
of their travels on social media while they are ferring large amounts of money.
researchers across the country are racing to
still traveling (of course tell them not to!), a
defuse an extraordinary political weapon:
scammer could actually know where they are, 2. Step up your due diligence.
computer-generated fake videos that could
making the scam even more convincing.
Check multiple sources, especially as we
undermine candidates and
move into the 2020 election.
mislead voters during the
Even your nightly news is no
2020 presidential campaign.
longer the definitive end all/
And they have a message:
be all. Rumors and deepWe're not ready."
fakes may start on social
That said, when has the
media, but they can jump to
news ever reported some"real news" if repeated by an
thing followed by "And it's no
unsuspecting reporter who
big deal"?
didn't check their resource.
What is known, at least
The good news is, most
for now, is that the bulk of
deepfakes come out as such
deepfake videos have been
quickly. Check different news
porn, and the most concrete
sources. Look for the source
tactic to discern fake videos
of the video. If something
to date is to look for blinkseems unbelievable, it very
ing. Since photos usually
well could be. Double check.
Jordan Peele uses AI, President Obama in fake news PSA

How can you tell the
difference?

16 GRAND

Nov-Dec 2019

only have eyes open, it's hard to make someone look like they are blinking naturally.
There are, however, some things you can
do, now that you know you can't trust everything you see and hear.

3. Warn your children and
grandchildren to not share
too much.

Depending on their age, your grandchildren may scoff at your warnings, but it's still a
good idea to suggest they not post so many
photos of themselves online. Nothing posted
online can ever be guaranteed to be private.
Social media sites change their privacy settings all the time. And there is nothing to prevent a friend or family member from re-sharing something once posted.

4. Watch more fake videos.

Watching some of the readily available
videos using deepfake technology is a way
to hone your skills at detection. Can you tell
the difference? Something about the eyes?
A quick profile view of the face? Start here
with the "Top 10 Deepfake Videos" from
Watchmojo.com on YouTube.

Deanna Shoss is a marketer, writer, interculturalist
in Chicago. As President and
CEO of Intercultural Talk, Inc.
she provides digital, intercultural and real-life marketing
for entrepreneurs and people
following their passions post
age 50, who need strategy
and know-how to adapt
to new communication technologies. She speaks
Portuguese, Spanish and French and is a certified
Body Pump and group fitness instructor.

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https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine/ https://www.twitter.com/grandMmagazine https://www.youtu.be/o7uN4UlVq-k https://www.youtu.be/bE1KWpoX9Hk https://www.youtu.be/bE1KWpoX9Hk https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/06/12/top-ai-researchers-race-detect-deepfake-videos-we-are-outgunned/?noredirect=on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE1KWpoX9Hk&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtu.be/-QvIX3cY4lc http://www.Watchmojo.com http://www.interculturaltalk.com/ https://www.adweek.com/digital/deepfakes-are-much-more-prevalent-in-porn-than-in-politics-study-finds/ https://www.adweek.com/digital/deepfakes-are-much-more-prevalent-in-porn-than-in-politics-study-finds/ https://www.adweek.com/digital/deepfakes-are-much-more-prevalent-in-porn-than-in-politics-study-finds/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/611726/the-defense-department-has-produced-the-first-tools-for-catching-deepfakes/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/611726/the-defense-department-has-produced-the-first-tools-for-catching-deepfakes/

GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019

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