Can you spot Deepfake

Whāinga ako: Lesson Goals

To understand and differentiate real video and deepfake

Kupu matua - Keywords

Deepfake – artificially generated video of a person in a situation or a context that was never there

Mahi - Work

A deepfake is a video, picture, or voice recording that has been changed using computers to look or sound real, even though it’s fake. It can be very tricky to tell if something is a deepfake.

Deepfakes are made using special computer programs that learn how people look, move, or sound by studying lots of examples. These programs use a type of smart technology called artificial intelligence (AI) to copy human behavior.

Deepfakes can sometimes cause problems, like spreading false information or hurting someone’s reputation. Look closely—can you spot anything strange in the video that makes it seem fake?

Deepfakes and Democracy

Deepfakes can cause serious problems for a democracy because a democracy relies on trust, good information, and fair decision-making. When people vote, they need accurate information to make choices. Deepfakes can damage all of that.

The Video of Zelensky Telling Ukrainian Soldiers to Surrender (2022)

As you watch this video make a list of things that look "off"

It is not known exactly who released this video, but it is thought to be connected to Russia or people supporting Russia.

In the video, it looks like Zelensky is saying that Ukraine should give the eastern region of Donbas back to Russia, that his army has “failed,” and that Ukrainians should surrender, according to Sky News.

He also appears to say:

“Being the president is not so easy. My advice to you is to lay down your arms and go back to your families. It’s not worth dying in this war. My advice to you is to live. I will try to do the same.”

However, the video is a so-called "deepfake", in which computer technology is used to manipulate images or videos to produce fabricated content. This shows how deepfakes could be used to affect important decisions—even in elections or during major world events.

How might a Ukrainian citizen feel after seeing this video?
How could this video affect the families of soldiers or people living in Donbas?
How could a video like this influence people’s decisions, such as whether to support the army or the government?
Could this video influence countries outside Ukraine? How?