False call to surrender
Meta deletes fake Zelenskyj video
The logo of Meta Photo: Andre M. Chang/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Using deepfake technology, unknown persons manipulated statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy online. But the Facebook group Meta has already reacted.
Facebook group Meta has identified and removed a fake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly telling his soldiers to lay down their arms.
Selenskyj never made the statement, said Meta security chief Nathaniel Gleicher on Twitter. “We quickly reviewed and removed this video as it violates our policy against deceptive, manipulated media.” In addition, colleagues were informed about the forgery on other Internet platforms.
The fake footage first appeared on the website of news website Ukraine 24 on Wednesday after it was allegedly attacked by hackers. After that, the deepfake video quickly spread across the internet and also on the meta-services Facebook and Instagram.
A deepfake video is a video created with the help of artificial intelligence that is intended to appear authentic but is not. The use of AI ensures that the voice sounds real and that spoken language and facial expressions match.
Two weeks ago, the Ukrainian government warned on Facebook that Russian President Vladimir Putin would use deepfake technology in his attempts to overthrow the Zelenskyi government. “Its aim is to confuse citizens, spread panic and get our troops to withdraw,” the government agency wrote.
A fake video had previously surfaced in which a surrender announcement was put in Putin’s mouth. “Russian soldier, drop your weapons and go home while you live!” the deepfake video said.