Today, in the arsenal of petty scammers and professional propagandists there are not only social networks as a content distribution platform, but also tools based on artificial intelligence technology that help make content convincing, interesting and very similar to reality.

24 Channels It explains exactly how the propaganda produced by artificial intelligence affects our consciousness today thanks to social networks.

Fakes become real

Not so long ago, in order to mislead the average user, propagandists or scammers had to invent elaborate stories, support them with artificially created facts and create the most convincing event scenarios.

Today, they are helped in this by sophisticated tools that simulate the voices of public figures, military leaders, bloggers and even pretend to be famous brands. All this to make misleading content as lifelike as possible.

The proliferation of fake AI-generated content is a concern that goes far beyond garnering likes and reshares. Instead, a different reality is on the horizon, where the spread of misinformation serves as a tool to undermine public trust in institutions and influential individuals.

Examples

Many users are familiar with loud Tiktok videos in which the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny allegedly addresses Ukrainians and urges them to take to the streets. In this example, there are several important narratives that Russian propaganda is trying to push, but we all think they are patently fake.

It certainly is, but it’s only a matter of time before such videos become so convincing that you can’t tell the real from the fake without third-party tools. Algorithms already perfectly reproduce the desired tone of voice and modify the video so that the speaker’s lips match the text written for it.

In order to increase the legitimacy of the video, propagandists try to cover themselves with a platform that is trusted in society, an influencer or a well-known brand. That’s why you can often see fake reports of news TV channels or programs on Tiktok that contain false information.

Recently on this social network you can come across a video in which the popular presenter of one of the country’s most watched TV channels talks about the fact that the WOG chain of gas stations has launched a campaign with unrealistically high discounts on fuel.

It would seem that what is the trick? In fact, the news was entirely made up using a voice generation service. The WOG gas station chain had nothing to do with such an action. The incident not only misleads consumers, but also causes serious harm because such misinformation can damage business reputation.

But this is an example of fancy advertising whose purpose is to direct users to a Telegram news channel where we promise to provide more information about a promotion that does not actually exist. But there are also more serious cases, and one of them is related to gas stations.

For example, in this video, propagandists spread the fake news that fuel at gas stations will only be sold to men with military ID. Apparently the Verkhovna Rada approved a resolution requiring the appointment of a representative from the TTK at each gas station.

The purpose of this video is not only to provide cheap advertising for the Telegram channel, but also to spread the narratives needed by Russian propaganda regarding the demonization of the TCC and the Ukrainian government, as well as to cause panic among citizens.
This type of content already goes far beyond ordinary fake content whose target is likes, subscriptions, reshares and subscriptions. All of this clearly plays into the hands of the enemy, and users need to first understand how to protect themselves and what to pay attention to.

Ripple effect for society

The consequences of these frauds, created with the help of tools based on artificial intelligence technologies, have far-reaching effects, leading to social disappointment and increasing distrust of opinion leaders, brands and politicians.

This influence extends primarily to conflicts on social networks, where arguments and passionate debates continue under such videos. It can also lead to conflict situations in everyday life, such as in stores or gas stations. This is how fake online content leaks from the virtual world into the real world, affecting our consciousness, internal state, trust and sense of security.

How to protect yourself from fakes?

Against the background of this growing threat, we have prepared some important information hygiene rules that everyone should follow. They can significantly increase your resistance to the perception of fake information and are universal.

1. Check the sources. You should verify information from multiple reliable sources before believing or sharing any content. If it is a high-profile news on one of the popular TV channels, the user can easily Google the news on the website of the same TV channel. You should also seek information from other reliable news sources.
2. Follow official communication channels. You should only trust verified and official sources of information, such as official websites, pages on social networks and statements of authorized persons. That is, if information about the promotion spreads on social networks, information about it will definitely be found on the official website of the brand.
3. Exercise caution and skepticism. It’s a very good habit to be wary of sensationalist content, especially if it seems out of character for a particular brand or person. Any information that seems too good to be true or disturbing should be questioned.
4. Do not share unverified information. Don’t be tempted to share information without proper verification. By refraining from sharing unverified content, people can actively contribute to reducing the impact of misinformation and propaganda.
5. Be careful and pay attention to details. Scammers and propagandists often make mistakes by creating fake products. They may be easily visible or not obvious at all. But often just hearing the presenter mispronounce a familiar word is enough to instantly unravel a fraud.

Only by working together can we hope to destroy the web of deception created by propagandists or fraudsters using modern artificial intelligence tools. It is not difficult to comply with the above rules in practice, you just need to pay a little attention. This is how each of us can join the fight against fraud.