Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) Program
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) within the Department of Defense has launched the Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) Program, motivated by the failure of statistical fingerprints in identifying generative components behind deepfakes. The program seeks to apply semantic detection algorithms to evaluate the status of media content. Specifically, attribution algorithms reveal authors of manipulated content, while characterization algorithms detect whether deepfakes were manufactured with harmful intent. DARPA has cited misinformation from adversaries as the main use case for Semantic Forensics. As a part of its work under SemaFor, DARPA has launched community initiatives such as AI FORCE (AI Forensics Open Research Challenge Evaluations) and the Analytic Catalog to engage stakeholders on malicious AI use through public challenges and an open-source resource library.
New Protections to Combat AI Impersonation of Individuals
Federal Trade Commission
In February, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposal to extend impersonation protections onto individuals, following previous action to safeguard government and businesses. This action follows an influx in complaints from consumers and impersonated individuals who have become victims to impersonation fraud. Furthermore, the Commission has considered whether entities should be permitted to produce goods and services if producers know or anticipate that their products will be implemented in impersonating deepfakes. Lastly, the FTC announced enactment of the Government and Business Impersonation Rule, allowing the Commission to initiate litigation against scammers overseas.
Proposed Amendments to Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) requests public comment on its proposal to amend the trade regulation rule entitled Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses (Impersonation Rule or Rule) to revise the title of the Rule, add a prohibition on the impersonation of individuals, and extend liability for violations of the Rule to parties who provide goods and services with knowledge or reason to know that those goods or services will be used in impersonations of the kind that are themselves unlawful under the Rule. The Commission believes these changes are necessary and such impersonation is prevalent, based on all comments it received on the Rule and other information discussed in this document. The Commission now solicits written comment, data, and arguments concerning the utility and scope of the proposed revisions to the Impersonation Rule.