Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee warns of “highly convincing” deepfakes that could lead to “spreading disinformation” after fake video of himself leaked

In a Facebook post on Friday, Lee said his and Wong’s videos are “very convincing but completely bogus” and does not respond to “scam videos” that promise investment returns or prizes. He appealed to Singaporeans.

“The use of deepfake technology to spread disinformation will continue to increase. We must remain vigilant and learn how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from such scams. I would like to thank the Singaporeans who took the time to report this matter to me,” Mr Lee said.

In one doctored video, Li appears to be interviewed by a presenter from Chinese news network CGTN, where they discuss an investment proposal that promises “hands-free crypto trading with a proven track record of success.”

Alfred Schuh, co-founder of technology website Techgundu, said: “The fact that the prime minister himself is addressing this issue shows that the public is very wary of being fooled by this. “There is,” he said.

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A similar video of Mr Wong promoting investment fraud was circulating on social media several days ago, the government-funded broadsheet The Straits Times reported.

In the video, Wong appears to be promoting an investment product that “allows anyone to receive guaranteed monthly dividends with minimal investment.”

Just two weeks ago, the Deputy Prime Minister posted on Facebook warning Singaporeans about deepfakes endorsing commercial products and reinstating the circuit breaker.

“These are all false. Stay vigilant and discerning online,” Wong wrote.

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Mr Siu said Mr Lee and Mr Wong had successfully handled the situation by leveraging social media platforms with huge followings to deal with deepfake videos.

Singaporeans are relatively tech-savvy and aware of scams thanks to government-led campaigns, but given the evolving sophistication of AI, it is impossible to “completely isolate” the population. Mr. Schue added.

Ali Fazeli, senior cyber threat intelligence consultant at NexVision Lab, said the widespread availability of AI-powered face-swapping and voice-generating tools online is making it easier for fraudsters to create deepfake videos. He says it has become easier.

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He said that currently it is still “difficult” to create a deepfake that perfectly replicates a victim.

Ali added that while social media platforms are the first line of defense against deepfakes, governments should also educate the less tech-savvy sections of society about the threat through traditional news outlets.

Siu said that although laws and regulations are in place, they may not be enough as deepfakes continue to become more realistic and difficult to distinguish from reality in the coming years.

“Scammers always find new ways to trick us. If you look at other forms of fraud, there are always new forms of deception. There has also been a significant rise in awareness. [campaigns]It helps, but ultimately people need to be more aware,” he said.