NewsDeepfakes
Five tells of a deepfake video — and why you should not rely on them
Visual glitches are fading. Checking where a clip came from is becoming the better habit.
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A deepfake is video or audio made or altered by AI so that someone appears to say or do something they did not. Early examples were easy to catch. Newer ones often are not.
What to look for
- Edges of the face that shimmer or blur against hair and background.
- Lighting on the face that does not match the room.
- Lip movement that drifts slightly out of step with the sound.
- Hands, teeth and jewellery that change shape between frames.
- A voice that is oddly flat, with no breaths or room noise.
Why the checklist is not enough
Each of these flaws is a technical problem, and technical problems get fixed. A clean-looking clip is not proof of anything. Treat the list as a first filter, not a verdict.
Stop asking whether it looks real. Start asking where it came from.
Look for the earliest version of the clip, see whether trusted outlets carry it, and notice whether it is asking you to feel something strongly and act fast. Those habits will keep working after the glitches are gone.
Sources and references
- Sample reference 1Placeholder. Link the primary research paper or official document here before publication.
- Sample reference 2Placeholder. Link an independent expert explainer or consumer-protection guidance here.
