How to spot a deepfake video
A famous face saying something surprising, shared a thousand times by lunch. Before you share it too, check this.
Signs in the video
- Lip sync slightly off, especially on "b", "p" and "m", where lips should close.
- The edge of the face: blur or shimmer around the hairline, jaw or glasses when the head turns.
- Teeth and tongue that look smeared or too uniform.
- Lighting on the face that doesn't match the room.
- Voice too clean for the setting, or flat emotion during dramatic words.
- "They never blink" was an early sign. It has been fixed; don't rely on it.
Checks that matter more
- Where did it come from? Find the earliest upload. A real clip of a public figure usually has an official or news source.
- Is anyone reputable reporting it? A truly shocking real video gets covered fast.
- Search for the quote in text. Fact-checkers often get there first.
- Does it ask you to act? Invest, donate, vote differently, share now: slow down.
Scams with famous faces
Deepfakes of celebrities and business leaders are used to sell crypto, "free giveaways" and miracle products. No real celebrity will double your crypto.
Text is where most bots meet you day to day. Practise there: two real people, one AI.
Questions
Can a deepfake be live, on a video call?
Yes, real-time face and voice swapping exists. For anything involving money, confirm by another channel you already trust.
Is every edited video a deepfake?
No. Deepfakes replace a face or voice with a generated one. Ordinary edits, cuts and filters are different, though they can mislead too.