The world of audio and visual (A/V) media has experienced a profound transformation, evolving from a realm of entertainment and delight into one being weaponized with manipulation and fear.

This evolution has given rise to what I term the “Dark A/V Era,” characterized by the growing exploitation of these mediums to disseminate misinformation, incite violence, and exploit vulnerabilities.  A loss of trust in what we hear and see.  

The Rise of Audio Manipulation

Audio technology, once celebrated for its power to connect and entertain, has taken a turn for the dark side . Synthetic voices, eerily accurate in mimicking human speech, has opened a Pandora’s box of dark arts deceptive practices.

Advanced algorithms are being exploited in “voice scams,” where unsuspecting individuals receive calls from voices indistinguishable from those of their loved ones (Hi mom it’s me i am in jail and need you to send 10k) or trusted authorities undermining the integrity of communication and  posing a significant threat to personal trust and safety.  As these technologies become more sophisticated, they represent a disturbing evolution in the landscape of digital fraud, challenging our ability to discern reality of what we are hearing.

Video’s Manipulative Grip

Likewise, video, once a source of amusement, and delight now distorted into a tool for manipulation. Videos are meticulously crafted to change hearts and minds across political landscapes.  Deceiving viewers unable to discern or unpracticed in new visual consumption best practices.  Deepfake technology, enabling the realistic manipulation of video footage, has exacerbated this trend, blurring the line between fact and fiction.  These tools are not being used for joy they are being leveraged to evoke fear, anger, and hatred, often with the intention of inciting violence or promoting extremism.

Watermarks: An Insufficient Shield

While watermarks are intended to safeguard copyright and ownership, they fall short in addressing the root cause of this issue. The capacity to create and manipulate A/V content resides not solely in the tools themselves but in the intentions of those who wield them. The addition of a watermark alone does not deter malicious actors from exploiting these technologies for nefarious purposes.  More importantly it does not prevent its viewing, which happens at lighting speeds globally. Watermarks are mostly ignored or noticed after the fact by the few that care.  The social networks have made it clear they are not going to be the solution or voice of reason in allowing manipulated media to exist and be promoted on their networks often obtaining reach though the social networks own ranking algos. 

Navigating the Dark A/V Era

To navigate the Dark A/V Era effectively, a holistic approach is imperative. This involves addressing the underlying motivations behind the creation and dissemination of harmful content, fostering digital literacy and critical thinking skills, and formulating ethical guidelines for the use of A/V technologies. 

A Collective Effort

Addressing the weaponization of audio and video necessitates a collective effort involving individuals, governments, and technology companies. None of which will happen in our life times. Making it more important for individuals to acquire the skills to identify and resist manipulation because the hope that governments will enact policies regulating technology usage, and technology companies will  develop and adhere to ethical guidelines for their platforms is unlikely.