As generative video models become more sophisticated, it is becoming possible to create realistic videos of public figures saying things they never said. These are called deepfakes. Detecting deepfakes is an essential skill in forensic verification.
How Deepfakes are Made
Deepfakes are typically generated using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or diffusion models. One model generates synthetic faces, and another checks it against real photos, refining the image until the synthetic face looks indistinguishable from the real person.
Forensic Analysis Techniques
Forensic specialists look for physical inconsistencies. Humans blink naturally every 2 to 8 seconds; early deepfakes rarely blinked. Look at the edges of the face (are there blur artifacts near the ears and chin?) and check the audio synchronization (does the mouth shape match the sound exactly?).
In professional settings, we also use metadata analysis and cryptographic verification (like digital watermarking) to verify media authenticity.