Global Big Data Conference

A deepfake video created by Dutch police could help to change the often negative perception of the technology. Deepfakes use generative neural network architectures – such as autoencoders or generative adversarial networks (GANs) – to manipulate or generate visual and audio content. The technology is already being used for malicious purposes including generating sexual content of individuals without their consent, fraud, and the creation of deceptive content aimed at changing views and influencing democratic processes. However, authorities in Rotterdam have proven the technology can be put to use for good. Dutch police have created a deepfake video of 13-year-old Sedar Soares – a young footballer who was shot dead in 2003 while throwing snowballs with his friends in the car park of a Rotterdam metro station – in an appeal for information to finally solve his murder.