Deepfakes: how is a fake recording made?
AI can create or alter an image, a sound or a video so that it looks like a real person or event.
What is it?
A deepfake is a video, image or audio clip made or altered with AI to show a real person saying or doing something they did not. Such content is increasingly convincing and increasingly easy to make.
An everyday example
Before an election a clip circulates in which a candidate urges voters to stay at home. The candidate never said it.
Why does it matter?
Deepfakes are used for fraud, harassment and political deception. They also undermine trust in genuine recordings.
A common misconception
That you can always spot a fake by eye, or that an “AI detector” will reliably catch it. It is more reliable to check the origin: who posted it first and whether other sources confirm it.
In more detail
What is a deepfake?
The term usually means synthetic or doctored content that gives a misleading impression of being genuine.
Can I spot one by eye?
Sometimes, but not reliably. Without technical traces, even experts can find it hard to judge where something came from.
What are Content Credentials?
Metadata based on provenance standards that can help show where content came from and how it was changed.
Does a missing label mean a recording is genuine?
No. Metadata can be lost, and a lot of content has no provable origin.
Remember: To check something, you need the story of where it came from, not just an “AI detector”.
Reliable sources
Last reviewed 1 November 2026. An explainer, not professional, legal or medical advice. For rules and figures that change, check the official version.