Individual Responsibility Around Deepfakes: It's No Laughing Matter

Area of Science:

• Psychology of technology
• Digital media studies
• Cybersecurity awareness

Background:

• Deepfake videos present a growing challenge to digital media authenticity.
• Understanding user perception of responsibility is crucial for mitigating Deepfake risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate contextual factors influencing individual responsibility interpretation regarding Deepfake videos.
• To analyze the relationship between concern, humorous perception, age, and perceived responsibility for Deepfakes.

Main Methods:

• A test/retest methodology was employed.
• A survey instrument administered to 1,023 respondents measured perceptions of responsibility, concern, and humorous appreciation of Deepfakes.

Main Results:

• A negative correlation was found between individual responsibility and concern, suggesting externalization of responsibility for detecting Deepfakes.
• Humorous perception and age significantly impacted perceived individual responsibility.
• Younger participants, more prone to viewing Deepfakes humorously, reported higher personal responsibility, potentially increasing their vulnerability.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight a concerning trend of responsibility externalization in the face of sophisticated Deepfake technology.
• Age and engagement with Deepfakes as humor influence responsibility perception, with younger demographics facing heightened risks.
• Further research is needed to develop effective strategies for enhancing user awareness and responsibility in combating malicious Deepfakes.