#FactCheck - Viral Video of Argentina Football Team Dancing to Bhojpuri Song is Misleading

Introduction

Advanced deepfake technology blurs the line between authentic and fake. To ascertain the credibility of the content it has become important to differentiate between genuine and manipulated or curated online content highly shared on social media platforms. AI-generated fake voice clone, videos are proliferating on the Internet and social media. There is the use of sophisticated AI algorithms that help manipulate or generate synthetic multimedia content such as audio, video and images. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate between genuine, altered, or fake multimedia content. McAfee Corp., a well-known or popular global leader in online protection, has recently launched an AI-powered deepfake audio detection technology under Project “Mockingbird” intending to safeguard consumers against the surging threat of fabricated or AI-generated audio or voice clones to dupe people for money or unauthorisly obtaining their personal information. McAfee Corp. announced its AI-powered deepfake audio detection technology, known as Project Mockingbird, at the Consumer Electronics Show, 2024.

What is voice cloning?

To create a voice clone of anyone's, audio can be deeplyfaked, too, which closely resembles a real voice but, in actuality, is a fake voice created through deepfake technology. 

Emerging Threats: Cybercriminal Exploitation of Artificial Intelligence in Identity Fraud, Voice Cloning, and Hacking Acceleration

AI is used for all kinds of things from smart tech to robotics and gaming. Cybercriminals are misusing artificial intelligence for rather nefarious reasons including voice cloning to commit cyber fraud activities. Artificial intelligence can be used to manipulate the lips of an individual so it looks like they're saying something different, it could also be used for identity fraud to make it possible to impersonate someone for a remote verification for your bank and it also makes traditional hacking more convenient. Cybercriminals have been misusing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, which has led to an increase in the speed and volume of cyber attacks, and that's been the theme in recent times.

Technical Analysis

To combat Audio cloning fraudulent activities, McAfee Labs has developed a robust AI model that precisely detects artificially generated audio used in videos or otherwise.

• Context-Based Recognition: Contextual assessment is used by technological devices to examine audio components in the overall setting of an audio. It improves the model's capacity to recognise discrepancies suggestive of artificial intelligence-generated audio by evaluating its surroundings information.
• Conductual Examination: Psychological detection techniques examine linguistic habits and subtleties, concentrating on departures from typical individual behaviour. Examining speech patterns, tempo, and pronunciation enables the model to identify artificially or synthetically produced material.
• Classification Models: Auditory components are categorised by categorisation algorithms for detection according to established traits of human communication. The technology differentiates between real and artificial intelligence-synthesized voices by comparing them against an extensive library of legitimate human speech features.
• Accuracy Outcomes: McAfee Labs' deepfake voice recognition solution, which boasts an impressive ninety per cent success rate, is based on a combined approach incorporating psychological, context-specific, and categorised identification models. Through examining audio components in the larger video context and examining speech characteristics, such as intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation, the system can identify discrepancies that could be signs of artificial intelligence-produced audio. Categorical models make an additional contribution by classifying audio information according to characteristics of known human speech. This all-encompassing strategy is essential for precisely recognising and reducing the risks connected to AI-generated audio data, offering a strong barrier against the growing danger of deepfake situations.
• Application Instances: The technique protects against various harmful programs, such as celebrity voice-cloning fraud and misleading content about important subjects.

Conclusion

It is important to foster ethical and responsible consumption of technology. Awareness of common uses of artificial intelligence is a first step toward broader public engagement with debates about the appropriate role and boundaries for AI. Project Mockingbird by Macafee employs AI-driven deepfake audio detection to safeguard against cyber criminals who are using fabricated AI-generated audio for scams and manipulating the public image of notable figures, protecting consumers from financial and personal information risks. 

References:

• https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/mcafee-deepfake-audio-detection-technology-against-rise-in-ai-generated-misinformation-18740471.htm
• https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/mcafee-unveils-advanced-deepfake-audio-detection-technology/article67718951.ece
• https://lifestyle.livemint.com/smart-living/innovation/ces-2024-mcafee-ai-technology-audio-project-mockingbird-111704714835601.html
• https://news.abplive.com/fact-check/audio-deepfakes-adding-to-cacophony-of-online-misinformation-abpp-1654724

Introduction

‍Human Trafficking has been a significant concern and threat to society for a very long time. The aspects of our physical safety also have been influenced by human traffickers and the modus operandi they have adopted and deployed over the years. We are always cautious of younger children in regard to trafficking whenever we go out to crowded or unknown places. This concern and threat have also migrated to cyberspace and now pose new and different tangents of threats. These crimes are committed using technology and are further substantiated by different cybercrimes.

‍What is Cyber-Enabled Human Trafficking?

‍Cyber-enabled human trafficking is the new evolution of human trafficking in the digital age. Bad actors lure the victims via the internet and use social engineering to exploit their vulnerabilities to get them into their traps. In today's time, crime is often substantiated in lieu of fake job offers and a better lifestyle in new and major metropolitan cities. Now this crime has gone beyond the geographical boundaries of our nation, and often the victims end up in remote locations in the Middle East or South East Asia.

‍Cybercrime Hubs in Myanmar

‍The reports have indicated that a lot of trafficked victims are taken down to various cybercrime hubs in Myanmar. The victims are often lured on the pretext of job offers overseas, which pay handsomely. The victims make their way into the foreign nation but are then cornered by the bad actors and are segregated and taken into different hubs. The victims are often school graduates and seek basic jobs for their earnings. The victims are taken into Cybercrime hubs which Chinese syndicate criminals allegedly run.The victims are kept in tough conditions, beaten up, and held captive in remote jungles. Once the victim has lost hope, the criminals train them to commit cyber frauds like phishing. The victims are given scripts and mobile numbers to commit cybercrimes. The victims are given targets to ensure their survival, and due to the dark and threatening conditions, the victims just give up on the demands just to remain alive. Some of the victims make their way back home as well, but that is after 6-7 years of such constant torture and abuse to commit cybercrimes. The majority of such survivors face trouble seeking legal assistance as the criminals are almost impossible to track, thus making redressal for crimes and rehabilitation for survivors tough.

‍How to stay safe?

‍The criminals in such acts often target the vulnerable sector of the population, these people generally hail from tier 3 towns and rural areas. These victims aspire for a better life and earning opportunities, and due to less education and minimal awareness, they fail to see the traps set by the victims. The population at large can deploy the following measures and safe practices to avoid such horrific threats-

• Avoid Stranger interaction: Avoid interacting with strangers on any online platform or portal. Social media sites are the most used platforms by bad actors to make contact with potential victims.
• Do not Share: Avoid sharing any personal information with anyone online, and avoid filling out third-party surveys/forms seeking personal information.
• Check, Check and Recheck: Always be on alert for threats and always check and cross-check any link or platform you use or access.
• Too good to be true: If something feels like Too good to be true, it probably is and hence avoid falling for attractive job offers and work-from-home opportunities on social media platforms.
• Know your helplines: One should know the helpline numbers to make sure to exercise the reporting duty and also encourage your family members to report in case of any threat or issue.
• Raise Awareness: It is the duty of all netizens to raise awareness in society to arm more people against cybercrimes and fraud.

Conclusion

‍The name of cybercriminals is spreading all across the ecosystems, and now the technology is being deployed by such bad actors to even substantiate physical crimes. We need to be on alert and remain aware of such crimes and the modus Operandi of cyber criminals. Awareness and education are our best weapons to combat the threats and issues of cyber-enabled human trafficking, as the criminals feed on our vulnerabilities, lets eradicate them for once and for all and work towards creating a wholesome safe cyber ecosystem for all.https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3228543/inside-chinese-run-crime-hubs-myanmar-are-conning-world-we-can-kill-you-here

‍

On 22nd October 2024, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Communications, launched the (DoT) Department of Telecoms’ International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System. This was introduced in light of efforts toward preventing international fraudulent calls that enable cyber crimes. A recent report as per PIB claims for the system to have been effective and played a role in a 90% reduction in the number of spoofed international calls, its instances falling from 1.35 Crore to 6 Lakhs within two months of the launch of the system.

International spoof calls are calls that masquerade as numbers originating from within the country when displayed on the target's mobile screen. This is done by manipulating the calling line identity or the CLI, commonly known as the phone number. Previous cases reported mention that such spoof calls have been used for conducting financial scams, impersonating government officials to carry out digital arrests, and inducing panic. Instances of threats of disconnecting numbers by TRAI officials, and narcotics officials on finding drugs or even contraband through couriers are also rampant. 

International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System 

As was addressed in the Budget in 2024, the system was previously called the Centralised International Out Roamer (CIOR), and the DoT was allocated Rs.38.76 crore for the same. The Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) under the DoT is another project that aims to investigate and research fraudulent use of telecom resources, including messages, scams, and spam - the budget for which has been increased from 50 to 85 crores.

The International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System was implemented in two phases, the first one was at the level of the telephone companies (telcos). Telcos can verify their subscribers and Indian SIMs based on the Indian Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) international long-distance (ILD) network. When a user with an Indian number travels abroad, the roaming feature gets activated, and all calls hit the ILD network of the TSP. This allows the TSP to verify whether the numbers starting with +91 are genuinely making calls from abroad or from India. However, a TSP can only verify numbers that are issued with their TSP ILD network and not those of other TSPs. This issue was addressed in the second phase, as the DIU of DoT and the TSPs built an integrated system so that a centralised database could be used to check for genuine subscribers. 

CyberPeace Outlook

A press release on 23rd December 2024 encouraged the TSPs to label incoming International calls as International calls on the mobile screen of the receiver. Some of them have already started adding labels and are sending awareness messages informing their subscribers of tips on staying safe from scams. Apart from these, there are also applications available online that help in identifying callers and their location, however, these are at the behest of the users' efforts and have moderate trust value. At the level of the public, the practice of blocking unknown international numbers and not calling back, along with awareness regarding country codes is encouraged. Coordinated and updated efforts on the part of the Government and the TSPs are much appreciated in today's time as scammers continue to find new ways to commit cyber crimes using telecommunication resources.

References

1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jyotiraditya-scindia-launches-dot-system-to-block-spam-international-calls-101729615441509.html
2. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/centre-launches-system-to-block-international-spoofed-calls-curb-fraud-124102300449_1.html
3. https://www.opindia.com/2024/12/number-of-spoofed-international-calls-used-in-cyber-crimes-goes-down-by-90-in-2-months/
4. https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/telecom/telecom-department-anti-spoofed-international-calls-19529459.htm
5. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2067113
6. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2087644
7. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/display-international-call-for-calls-from-abroad-to-curb-scams-dot-to-telecos-101735050551449.html 

‍