Synthetic media targets politics ahead of U.S. presidential election
As the U.S. presidential election season swings into high gear, the amount of synthetic media targeting politicians is soaring. According to a new report from brand protection startup Creopoint, the number of manipulated videos shared online grew 20 times over the past year.
While celebrities and executives continue to be targets of deepfakes and other altered media, the company said 60% of doctored videos it found on its platform took aim at politicians. The videos ranged from goofy content, such as a deepfake that placed U.S. President Donald Trump in a scene from the movie Independence Day, to more insidious content designed to make former Vice President Joe Biden appear to be disoriented.
