Ever find yourself scrolling through your social media feed and get caught up in a video that seems too good to be true? It looks good, but something feels off and you can’t quite put your finger on what’s wrong.
Welcome to the world of the deepfake created by artificial intelligence (AI). In a definition taken from AI itself, a deepfake is a type of AI used to create convincing fake images, video and audio recordings. The term is a combination of deep learning and fake, which applies the use of deep learning algorithms in the creation of photos, videos and other media.
Fake Applicants
A blog from the National Law Review cautions employers to be aware of a rise in the number of fraudulent job applications, particularly those for remote positions. These deepfakes can include fake resumes, images and voices. Ironically, many employers who are upping their security measures include mandatory security awareness measures to help employees recognize these evolving security threats.
Recognizing Deepfake
- Pay attention to the face, particularly the cheeks and forehead.
- Watch the eyes and eyebrows see shadows appear in natural places.
- Observe if there is glare on an individual wearing glasses. Does this reflect the natural physics of lighting?
- Does facial hair or moles look real?
- Observe the rate of blinking. Is it too much blinking or not enough?
- Look at the lips. Does the size and color of the lips match the rest of the person’s face?
*MIT Media Lab
Security Measures
The authors of the blog advise employers to train their recruiters and hiring agents on how to identify and deter improper or malicious activity in order to minimize fraudulent activity. This should include measures such as having job candidates on camera, disabling video filters and using screen sharing to show relevant documents.
Another way is to conduct interviews on-site before making final hiring decisions. Hiring coordination should also include members of the IT team to ensure equipment for remote workers is delivered to the new hire’s stated address. Facial recognition tools and other systems can be another option for employers to detect fraudulent applications and applicants.
