How to detect a fake, and in particular a fake video?

“Believe only official sources,” officials like to say. But how can we trust them if these official sources freeze, refuse to comment and poke everyone at their empty telethon with pink ponies?

How to detect a fake, and in particular a fake video? This question is sounding louder, gradually acquiring hysterical notes.
The sad news is that high-quality fakes can only be detected by specialists, and this takes time. That is, it is extremely difficult (almost impossible) for an ordinary citizen to do this.
But there is also good news. Every user has two powerful tools: critical thinking and common sense. Not everyone uses them, and some don’t quite understand what they are. I'll explain.
Critical thinking is always questioning, simply put. Don't take it on faith, don't trust by default. Even if the distribution comes from seemingly trusted sources. Even when I was studying at the SBU Academy, we were taught to check information through at least two other independent (!) sources. Preferably, also trusted ones. Not forgetting that sources sometimes tend to become untrustworthy: everything is dynamic in the modern World. For example, almost all world-famous publications have repeatedly been caught using deliberately ordered or unverified materials.
A temporary advantage is that most modern video fakes are of low quality. With the naked eye you can notice a discrepancy between the sound and facial expressions, the lips move differently, the silhouette looks amazing, unnatural micromovements, etc.
But this is a temporary phenomenon. The pace of development of what is called “artificial intelligence” will soon allow it to make flawless videos based on a reference sample. And even specialists won’t help.Therefore, the main means of countering technically perfect fakes will soon be our same natural friends: critical thinking and common sense. Many people believe what they really expect or what they are very afraid of. It is precisely such strong emotions that information-psychological operations using video fakes are designed for. But if you turn on common sense and ask yourself in just a couple of minutes the question “could this be a misconception”, “who might benefit from this”, “did I do something to win a million/apartment in Kiev” - then the fake becomes much less likely to manipulate the consciousness of the target of an information attack.
And it is also important not to rush to spread “fried” or shocking information. Even experienced journalists have repeatedly fallen for this hook, but this is such an occupational hazard: it is better to get burned by desi than to break the news to the last ones.
How to combat professional fakes at the state level and is it necessary to do this? Yes need. And the only reasonable way is a refutation. Now in Ukraine there are some state institutions to counter fakes, people receive salaries for this, but the level of their work remains invisible. No one will be surprised if I say that in modern Ukraine some state institutions are not coping with their tasks?
And another powerful tool for countering disinformation is ordinary communication with society, the lack of which has been talked about for many years. Let's say some video appears in your telegrams with a top politician saying shocking things.People begin to spread the word, worry, and ask questions. But the official is silent. People are even more worried, news is moving from shit channels to more reputable media, and from them to respected and international ones. But the authorities are still silent. And only when the situation becomes completely critical does someone reluctantly refute it. “Believe only official sources,” officials like to say. But how can we trust them if these official sources freeze, refuse to comment and poke everyone into their marathon with pink ponies?
It is the lack of clear and honest communication with society that gives rise to the emergence of fakes. A vacuum of information creates demand for it. The incomprehensibility of the position encourages a search for answers in the muddy TG garbage dumps. Limited freedom of speech in wartime is partly justified, but deaf silence on issues that matter to people is also a mistaken strategy. Censorship is not the solution. After all, the desire for information is a natural human need, just like breathing and eating. Here we need a reasonable balance, which is so difficult for graduates of the “Truskavets school” to find.
And by the way, “blocking” will not help improve the cleanliness of the information field, it no longer works, the information shenanigans have long since exhausted themselves. Persecution and silencing of “dissenters” generally works in the opposite direction.

Therefore, do not forget to take out your critical thinking more often and sharpen your common sense. We will need them more than once, since video fakes are constantly progressing.
Konstantin Korsun - cybersecurity expert