Facebook Introduces Dataset & Challenge to Counter DeepFakes

How to identify and respond to "Deepfake" videos -- realistic AI-synthesized video generated for the purpose of spreading misinformation -- is a challenge that has been highlighted by recent social media stumbles on the question, particularly from Facebook. Several months ago Facebook was criticized for failing to remove a viral video manipulated to make US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sound drunk. In collaboration with Partnership on AI, Microsoft, and academics from top universities, Facebook today announced the Deepfake Detection Challenge (DFDC) with the aim of finding innovative deepfake detection solutions to help the media industry spot videos that have been morphed by AI models. The challenge includes a dataset of video pairs (originals filmed by paid actors and tampered versions generated by various AI techniques). Facebook says no actual Facebook user data will be used, and has pledged US$10 million to encourage global participation in the challenge.