Deepfakes: What fairies and aliens can teach us about fake videos

"Deepfake" is the name being given to videos created through artificially intelligent deep learning techniques. Also referred to as "face-swapping", the process involves inputting a source video of a person into a computer, and then inputting multiple images and videos of another person. The neural network then learns the movements and expressions of the person in the source video in order to map the other's image onto it to look as if they are carrying out the speech or act. This practice was first used extensively in the production of fake pornography in late 2017 – where the faces of famous female celebrities were swapped in. Research has consistently shown that pornography leads the way in technological adoption and advancement when it comes to communication technologies, from the Polaroid camera to the internet.