Elon Musk Announces New Image Matching Update to Combat Deepfakes and Shallowfakes on Social Media Platform X
New Delhi: Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, revealed on Saturday the introduction of a significant update aimed at combating the proliferation of deepfakes and shallowfakes on the social media platform X.
The update, focusing on “improved image matching,” promises to enhance the platform’s ability to detect and flag posts containing manipulated or misleading content. Musk stated that this advancement will result in notes appearing on 30 percent more posts that feature “similar or identical images.”
In a statement posted on X, the platform assured users of its commitment to closely monitor the implementation of the update to address any potential inaccuracies in image matching.
Musk emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “This move should make a big difference in defeating deepfakes (and shallowfakes).”
Shallowfakes, which encompass photos, videos, and voice clips altered using readily available editing and software tools, have become increasingly prevalent on online platforms.
X’s automated notes on images will now be displayed on posts containing matching images, providing users with valuable context. The company explained, “It’s common for these notes to match on dozens, hundreds, and sometimes thousands of posts. Now, you can see how many posts an image note is matching on, right in note details.”
With the global election season underway, concerns regarding the dissemination of fake news and deepfakes aimed at influencing electoral processes have heightened. The independent Oversight Board, comprising 22 global human rights and freedom of expression experts, has urged swift action to address the threat posed by deepfakes to elections worldwide.
