Awareness and Understanding of Deepfakes Among University Students in Bangladesh

Résumé

The recent rise of deepfake technology has raised global concerns, extending to Bangladesh. This generative artificial intelligence-based technology is being used with the intention of disseminating political misinformation, spreading hatred, and targeting women to cause them harm. This creates serious concerns for society by threatening peace, democracy, harmony. The current study investigated the extent to which the youth population of Bangladesh are aware of deepfakes. It explored the level of media literacy among them and their ability to discern between genuine and manipulated content. Methodologically, the study employed surveys using a set of questionnaires of 19 questions. The survey data revealed that a substantial majority of respondents had prior knowledge of the term "deepfake," but there still is a notable percentage of respondents who have never heard of deepfakes, suggesting the existence of a knowledge gap. Data also suggested that many students lacked a formal introduction to deepfake and its possible implications and consequences for society, compounded by the perception among some that deepfakes are merely a form of entertainment. Massive educational campaigns in schools, colleges, and universities came out as the most prominent strategy for combating deepfake technology, followed by educational program, workshops and seminars.