What are deepfake videos?

Deepfakes, which started out as humorous videos, initially required a lot of computing infrastructure and time to produce. Today, thanks to artificial intelligence technologies, the result is even more realistic, and it does not require a lot of time to produce the video. In addition, it is difficult to investigate its authenticity without the right tools.

Deepfakes allow someone to manipulate a video by putting one person's face on another person's body (or vice versa) and adjusting the voice, facial expressions and movement. In this way, it creates a fake face, but one that mimics a real one. There are now dozens of apps, paid-for or free, that anyone can use to create a deepfake video. A humorous video is something completely different from a video that can be used as propaganda or as a means to discredit someone’s reputation.

Deepfake pornography

Today, the majority of deepfake material circulating on the internet is non-consensual pornography -  videos of pornographic material where the face of the woman in the lead role has been replaced by the face of another woman. Usually, the victims of deepfake pornography are celebrities, but it is possible that any woman or underage girl could be a victim. The whole issue raises great concerns about privacy on the internet, and unfortunately it can turn any person into a potential victim.  A typical example of this is the recent case of the trafficking of thousands of naked photos of women in Greece via Telegram.

Currently, anyone who is the target of deepfake revenge porn has limited options for legal prosecution. There is no European or national legislation that regulates and addresses the dangerous use of this practice. Only the Disinformation Code of Practice, originally introduced in April 2018 and renewed in June 2022, sets out a wide range of commitments to close down fake accounts and delegitimise misinformation providers. 

However, under Article 346 of the Greek Criminal Code, revenge pornography is considered a criminal offence, aiming at addressing the non-consensual sharing of material relating to the sexual life of the person depicted. In addition, the manipulation/alteration of the image of a person may be considered as a violation of the personal data of that person under Law 4624/2019.

Public awareness and education are vital components of combating the threat of deepfakes and revenge pornography. Individuals need to be aware of the existence of such technologies and the potential risks they pose. Educating people on how to identify and report deepfake content, promoting responsible online behavior, and fostering a culture of consent and respect for privacy are essential in mitigating these threats.

Find more information about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services – or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.