In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of Deepfake, which has led to the circulation of fake news, such as manipulated speeches or videos of public figures in order to generate controversy, scams and even panic in some users due to the possibilities and negative consequences of these applications. But what exactly is Deepfake?

Deepfake and its dangerous use.

In essence, it is an artificial intelligence technique that allows editing and recreating videos of real people or even individuals completely generated by AI, with extremely realistic results. Deepfake can accurately reproduce a person's face, movements, gestures and expressions, as has been seen in cases of public figures such as Barack Obama, Taylor Swift or Tom Hanks, with fake videos promoting scams or performing questionable actions. 

However, what happens when the physical manages to overcome technology? Although hyperrealistic masks were previously seen only on movie sets or in some videos on the Internet, considered to be exclusively for professionals, today they can be easily found on the web. 

What's so special about them?

These masks, made of silicone, have surprisingly realistic qualities, capable of simulating any kind of race, gender or age. Created with high-tech techniques, they are offered primarily as costume accessories without any malicious intent. However, it was only a matter of time before their use could become potentially dangerous.

Facial recognition systems.

Facial recognition systems are becoming increasingly common in public spaces and technological devices, which has led many to question their privacy. Countries such as China, Singapore and Japan have public cameras equipped with facial recognition systems to prevent crime and automatically identify people. But are these cameras capable of detecting a hyper-realistic mask?

In recent years, surveillance records have been released showing crimes committed with hyper-realistic masks, where perpetrators pose as elderly people or even people of another race, which has worried authorities. Considering that these masks are not inexpensive, the possibility of committing large-scale crimes is cause for concern.

Is this something to worry about?

Prices for these masks range from $300 to several thousand dollars, so they are not affordable for everyone. One of the main concerns is that these masks can be customized to the customer's specifications, which not only involves hiding a person's identity, but could also be used to impersonate others.

Where to find them?

If you are interested in learning more about these products, hopefully for benevolent purposes, you can find them at specialty stores such as metamorphosemasks.com or even on Etsy, where various sellers offer different designs and prices.