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Showing posts with label AI Deepfakes. Show all posts
online privacy concerns
AI Deepfakes AI generated Deepfake AI Privacy AI Risks Artificial Intelligence (AI) Grok Cyber Security Deepfake concerns Grok Indonesia online privacy concerns

Indonesia Temporarily Blocks Grok After AI Deepfake Misuse Sparks Outrage

 

A sudden pause in accessibility marks Indonesia’s move against Grok, Elon Musk’s AI creation, following claims of misuse involving fabricated adult imagery. News of manipulated visuals surfaced, prompting authorities to act - Reuters notes this as a world-first restriction on the tool. Growing unease about technology aiding harm now echoes across borders. Reaction spreads, not through policy papers, but real-time consequences caught online.  

A growing number of reports have linked Grok to incidents where users created explicit imagery of women - sometimes involving minors - without consent. Not long after these concerns surfaced, Indonesia’s digital affairs minister, Meutya Hafid, labeled the behavior a severe breach of online safety norms. 

As cited by Reuters, she described unauthorized sexually suggestive deepfakes as fundamentally undermining personal dignity and civil rights in digital environments. Her office emphasized that such acts fall under grave cyber offenses, demanding urgent regulatory attention Temporary restrictions appeared in Indonesia after Antara News highlighted risks tied to AI-made explicit material. 

Protection of women, kids, and communities drove the move, aimed at reducing mental and societal damage. Officials pointed out that fake but realistic intimate imagery counts as digital abuse, according to statements by Hafid. Such fabricated visuals, though synthetic, still trigger actual consequences for victims. The state insists artificial does not mean harmless - impact matters more than origin. Following concerns over Grok's functionality, officials received official notices demanding explanations on its development process and observed harms. 

Because of potential risks, Indonesian regulators required the firm to detail concrete measures aimed at reducing abuse going forward. Whether the service remains accessible locally hinges on adoption of rigorous filtering systems, according to Hafid. Compliance with national regulations and adherence to responsible artificial intelligence practices now shape the outcome. 

Only after these steps are demonstrated will operation be permitted to continue. Last week saw Musk and xAI issue a warning: improper use of the chatbot for unlawful acts might lead to legal action. On X, he stated clearly - individuals generating illicit material through Grok assume the same liability as those posting such content outright. Still, after rising backlash over the platform's inability to stop deepfake circulation, his stance appeared to shift slightly. 

A re-shared post from one follower implied fault rests more with people creating fakes than with the system hosting them. The debate spread beyond borders, reaching American lawmakers. A group of three Senate members reached out to both Google and Apple, pushing for the removal of Grok and X applications from digital marketplaces due to breaches involving explicit material. Their correspondence framed the request around existing rules prohibiting sexually charged imagery produced without consent. 

What concerned them most was an automated flood of inappropriate depictions focused on females and minors - content they labeled damaging and possibly unlawful. When tied to misuse - like deepfakes made without consent - AI tools now face sharper government reactions, Indonesia's move part of this rising trend. Though once slow to act, officials increasingly treat such technology as a risk needing strong intervention. 

A shift is visible: responses that were hesitant now carry weight, driven by public concern over digital harm. Not every nation acts alike, yet the pattern grows clearer through cases like this one. Pressure builds not just from incidents themselves, but how widely they spread before being challenged.
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Grok
AI Chatbot AI Deepfakes AI Privacy AI Risks AI security risks Artificial Intelligence (AI) Grok Cyber Security Deepfake Images Grok

Grok AI Faces Global Backlash Over Nonconsensual Image Manipulation on X

 

A dispute over X's internal AI assistant, Grok, is gaining attention - questions now swirl around permission, safety measures online, yet also how synthetic media tools can be twisted. This tension surfaced when Julie Yukari, a musician aged thirty-one living in Rio de Janeiro, posted a picture of herself unwinding with her cat during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Shortly afterward, individuals on the network started instructing Grok to modify that photograph, swapping her outfit for skimpy beach attire through digital manipulation. 

What started as skepticism soon gave way to shock. Yukari had thought the system wouldn’t act on those inputs - yet it did. Images surfaced, altered, showing her with minimal clothing, spreading fast across the app. She called the episode painful, a moment that exposed quiet vulnerabilities. Consent vanished quietly, replaced by algorithms working inside familiar online spaces. 

A Reuters probe found that Yukari’s situation happens more than once. The organization uncovered multiple examples where Grok produced suggestive pictures of actual persons, some seeming underage. No reply came from X after inquiries about the report’s results. Earlier, xAI - the team developing Grok - downplayed similar claims quickly, calling traditional outlets sources of false information. 

Across the globe, unease is growing over sexually explicit images created by artificial intelligence. Officials in France have sent complaints about X to legal authorities, calling such content unlawful and deeply offensive to women. A similar move came from India’s technology ministry, which warned X it did not stop indecent material from being made or shared online. Meanwhile, agencies in the United States, like the FCC and FTC, chose silence instead of public statements. 

A sudden rise in demands for Grok to modify pictures into suggestive clothing showed up in Reuters' review. Within just ten minutes, over one00 instances appeared - mostly focused on younger females. Often, the system produced overt visual content without hesitation. At times, only part of the request was carried out. A large share vanished quickly from open access, limiting how much could be measured afterward. 

Some time ago, image-editing tools driven by artificial intelligence could already strip clothes off photos, though they mostly stayed on obscure websites or required payment. Now, because Grok is built right into a well-known social network, creating such fake visuals takes almost no work at all. Warnings had been issued earlier to X about launching these kinds of features without tight controls. 

People studying tech impacts and advocacy teams argue this situation followed clearly from those ignored alerts. From a legal standpoint, some specialists claim the event highlights deep flaws in how platforms handle harmful content and manage artificial intelligence. Rather than addressing risks early, observers note that X failed to block offensive inputs during model development while lacking strong safeguards on unauthorized image creation. 

In cases such as Yukari’s, consequences run far beyond digital space - emotions like embarrassment linger long after deletion. Although aware the depictions were fake, she still pulled away socially, weighed down by stigma. Though X hasn’t outlined specific fixes, pressure is rising for tighter rules on generative AI - especially around responsibility when companies release these tools widely. What stands out now is how little clarity exists on who answers for the outcomes.
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Innovation
AI Deepfakes Artificial Intelligence Cyber Security Cyber Threats Financial Data Innovation

Why Cybersecurity Threats in 2026 Will Be Harder to See, Faster to Spread, And Easier to Believe

 


The approach to cybersecurity in 2026 will be shaped not only by technological innovation but also by how deeply digital systems are embedded in everyday life. As cloud services, artificial intelligence tools, connected devices, and online communication platforms become routine, they also expand the surface area for cyber exploitation.

Cyber threats are no longer limited to technical breaches behind the scenes. They increasingly influence what people believe, how they behave online, and which systems they trust. While some risks are still emerging, others are already circulating quietly through commonly used apps, services, and platforms, often without users realizing it.

One major concern is the growing concentration of internet infrastructure. A substantial portion of websites and digital services now depend on a limited number of cloud providers, content delivery systems, and workplace tools. This level of uniformity makes the internet more efficient but also more fragile. When many platforms rely on the same backbone, a single disruption, vulnerability, or attack can trigger widespread consequences across millions of users at once. What was once a diverse digital ecosystem has gradually shifted toward standardization, making large-scale failures easier to exploit.

Another escalating risk is the spread of misleading narratives about online safety. Across social media platforms, discussion forums, and live-streaming environments, basic cybersecurity practices are increasingly mocked or dismissed. Advice related to privacy protection, secure passwords, or cautious digital behavior is often portrayed as unnecessary or exaggerated. This cultural shift creates ideal conditions for cybercrime. When users are encouraged to ignore protective habits, attackers face less resistance. In some cases, misleading content is actively promoted to weaken public awareness and normalize risky behavior.

Artificial intelligence is further accelerating cyber threats. AI-driven tools now allow attackers to automate tasks that once required advanced expertise, including scanning for vulnerabilities and crafting convincing phishing messages. At the same time, many users store sensitive conversations and information within browsers or AI-powered tools, often unaware that this data may be accessible to malware. As automated systems evolve, cyberattacks are becoming faster, more adaptive, and more difficult to detect or interrupt.

Trust itself has become a central target. Technologies such as voice cloning, deepfake media, and synthetic digital identities enable criminals to impersonate real individuals or create believable fake personas. These identities can bypass verification systems, open accounts, and commit fraud over long periods before being detected. As a result, confidence in digital interactions, platforms, and identity checks continues to decline.

Future computing capabilities are already influencing present-day cyber strategies. Even though advanced quantum-based attacks are not yet practical, some threat actors are collecting encrypted data now with the intention of decrypting it later. This approach puts long-term personal, financial, and institutional data at risk and underlines the need for stronger, future-ready security planning.

As digital and physical systems become increasingly interconnected, cybersecurity in 2026 will extend beyond software and hardware defenses. It will require stronger digital awareness, better judgment, and a broader understanding of how technology shapes risk in everyday life.

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Scam
AI Deepfakes Bengaluru Cyber Crime deep fake videos Financial Scam links Scam

Deepfake of Finance Minister Lures Bengaluru Homemaker into ₹43.4 Lakh Trading Scam




A deceptive social media video that appeared to feature Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has cost a Bengaluru woman her life’s savings. The 57-year-old homemaker from East Bengaluru lost ₹43.4 lakh after being persuaded by an artificial intelligence-generated deepfake that falsely claimed the minister was recommending an online trading platform promising high profits.

Investigators say the video, which circulated on Instagram in August, directed viewers to an external link where users were encouraged to sign up for investment opportunities. Believing the message to be authentic, the woman followed the link and entered her personal information, which was later used to contact her directly.

The next day, a man identifying himself as Aarav Gupta reached out to her through WhatsApp, claiming to represent the company shown in the video. He invited her to a large WhatsApp group titled “Aastha Trade 238”, which appeared to host over a hundred participants discussing stock trades. Another contact, who introduced herself as Meena Joshi, soon joined the conversation, offering to help the victim learn how to use the firm’s trading tools.

Acting on their guidance, the homemaker downloaded an application called ACSTRADE and created an account. Meena walked her through the steps of linking her bank details, assuring her that the platform was reliable. The first transfer of ₹5,000 was made soon after, and to her surprise, the app began displaying what looked like real profits.

Encouraged by what appeared to be rapid returns, she made larger investments. The application showed her initial ₹1 lakh growing into ₹2 lakh, and a later ₹5 lakh transfer seemingly yielding ₹8 lakh. The visual proof of profit strengthened her trust, and she kept transferring higher amounts.

In September, problems surfaced. While exploring an “IPO feature” on the app, she tried to exit but was unable to do so due to recurring technical errors. When she sought help, Meena advised her to continue investing to prevent losses. The woman followed this advice, transferring a total of ₹23 lakh in hopes of recovering her funds.

Once her savings were exhausted, the scammers proposed a loan option within the same app, claiming it would help her maintain her trading record. When she attempted to withdraw money, the platform denied the request, displaying a message stating her loan account was still active. Believing the issue could be resolved with more funds, she pawned her gold jewellery at a bank and a finance company, wiring additional money to the fraudsters.

By late October, her total transfers had reached ₹43.4 lakh across 13 separate transactions between September 24 and October 27. The deception came to light only when her bank froze her account on November 1, alerting her that unusual activity had been detected.

The East Cybercrime Police Station has since registered a case under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses cheating. Officers confirmed that the fraudulent video used sophisticated AI tools to mimic the minister’s voice and gestures convincingly, making it difficult for untrained viewers to identify as fake.

Police officials have urged the public to remain alert to deepfake-driven scams that exploit public trust in well-known personalities. They advise verifying any financial offer through official government portals or trusted news sources, and to avoid clicking unfamiliar links on social media.

Experts warn that such crimes surface a new wave of cyber fraud, where manipulated media is used to build false credibility. Citizens are advised never to disclose personal or banking information through unverified links, and to immediately report suspicious investment schemes to their banks or local cybercrime authorities.



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financial risks
AI Clonning AI cybersecurity AI Deepfakes AI technology Cloning Cyber Fraud Deepfake deepfake videos Financial Fraud financial risks

How Scammers Use Deepfakes in Financial Fraud and Ways to Stay Protected

 

Deepfake technology, developed through artificial intelligence, has advanced to the point where it can convincingly replicate human voices, facial expressions, and subtle movements. While once regarded as a novelty for entertainment or social media, it has now become a dangerous tool for cybercriminals. In the financial world, deepfakes are being used in increasingly sophisticated ways to deceive institutions and individuals, creating scenarios where it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish between genuine interactions and fraudulent attempts. This makes financial fraud more convincing and therefore more difficult to prevent. 

One of the most troubling ways scammers exploit this technology is through face-swapping. With many banks now relying on video calls for identity verification, criminals can deploy deepfake videos to impersonate real customers. By doing so, they can bypass security checks and gain unauthorized access to accounts or approve financial decisions on behalf of unsuspecting individuals. The realism of these synthetic videos makes them difficult to detect in real time, giving fraudsters a significant advantage. 

Another major risk involves voice cloning. As voice-activated banking systems and phone-based transaction verifications grow more common, fraudsters use audio deepfakes to mimic a customer’s voice. If a bank calls to confirm a transaction, criminals can respond with cloned audio that perfectly imitates the customer, bypassing voice authentication and seizing control of accounts. Scammers also use voice and video deepfakes to impersonate financial advisors or bank representatives, making victims believe they are speaking to trusted officials. These fraudulent interactions may involve fake offers, urgent warnings, or requests for sensitive data, all designed to extract confidential information. 

The growing realism of deepfakes means consumers must adopt new habits to protect themselves. Double-checking unusual requests is a critical step, as fraudsters often rely on urgency or trust to manipulate their targets. Verifying any unexpected communication by calling a bank’s official number or visiting in person remains the safest option. Monitoring accounts regularly is another defense, as early detection of unauthorized or suspicious activity can prevent larger financial losses. Setting alerts for every transaction, even small ones, can make fraudulent activity easier to spot. 

Using multi-factor authentication adds an essential layer of protection against these scams. By requiring more than just a password to access accounts, such as one-time codes, biometrics, or additional security questions, banks make it much harder for criminals to succeed, even if deepfakes are involved. Customers should also remain cautious of video and audio communications requesting sensitive details. Even if the interaction appears authentic, confirming through secure channels is far more reliable than trusting what seems real on screen or over the phone.  

Deepfake-enabled fraud is dangerous precisely because of how authentic it looks and sounds. Yet, by staying vigilant, educating yourself about emerging scams, and using available security tools, it is possible to reduce risks. Awareness and skepticism remain the strongest defenses, ensuring that financial safety is not compromised by increasingly deceptive digital threats.
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Website
AI Deepfakes Facebook Hackers malware SVG files Website

Hackers Are Spreading Malware Through SVG Images on Facebook


The growing trend of age checks on websites has pushed many people to look for alternative platforms that seem less restricted. But this shift has created an opportunity for cybercriminals, who are now hiding harmful software inside image files that appear harmless.


Why SVG Images Are Risky

Most people are familiar with standard images like JPG or PNG. These are fixed pictures with no hidden functions. SVG, or Scalable Vector Graphics, is different. It is built using a coding language called XML, which can also include HTML and JavaScript, the same tools used to design websites. This means that unlike a normal picture, an SVG file can carry instructions that a computer will execute. Hackers are taking advantage of this feature to hide malicious code inside SVG files.


How the Scam Works

Security researchers at Malwarebytes recently uncovered a campaign that uses Facebook to spread this threat. Fake adult-themed blog posts are shared on the platform, often using AI-generated celebrity images to lure clicks. Once users interact with these posts, they may be asked to download an SVG image.

At first glance, the file looks like a regular picture. But hidden inside is a script written in JavaScript. The code is heavily disguised so that it looks meaningless, but once opened, it runs secretly in the background. This script connects to other websites and downloads more harmful software.


What the Malware Does

The main malware linked to this scam is called Trojan.JS.Likejack. Once installed, it hijacks the victim’s Facebook account, if the person is already logged in, and automatically “likes” specific posts or pages. These fake likes increase the visibility of the scammers’ content within Facebook’s system, making it appear more popular than it really is. Researchers found that many of these fake pages are built using WordPress and are linked together to boost each other’s reach.


Why It Matters

For the victim, the attack may go unnoticed. There may be no clear signs of infection besides strange activity on their Facebook profile. But the larger impact is that these scams help cybercriminals spread adult material and drive traffic to shady websites without paying for advertising.


A Recurring Tactic

This is not the first time SVG files have been misused. In the past, they have been weaponized in phishing schemes and other online attacks. What makes this campaign stand out is the combination of hidden code, clever disguise, and the use of Facebook’s platform to amplify visibility.

Users should be cautious about clicking on unusual links, especially those promising sensational content. Treat image downloads, particularly SVG files with the same suspicion as software downloads. If something seems out of place, it is safer not to interact at all.

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personal data security
AI Deepfakes AI technology AI tools Child Identity Theft Cyber Security Deepfake Deepfake Images deepfake videos Identity Theft personal data security

AI Can Create Deepfake Videos of Children Using Just 20 Images, Expert Warns

 

Parents are being urged to rethink how much they share about their children online, as experts warn that criminals can now generate realistic deepfake videos using as few as 20 images. This alarming development highlights the growing risks of digital identity theft and fraud facing children due to oversharing on social media platforms.  

According to Professor Carsten Maple of the University of Warwick and the Alan Turing Institute, modern AI tools can construct highly realistic digital profiles, including 30-second deepfake videos, from a small number of publicly available photos. These images can be used not only by criminal networks to commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts, or claim government benefits in a child’s name but also by large tech companies to train their algorithms, often without the user’s full awareness or consent. 

New research conducted by Perspectus Global and commissioned by Proton surveyed 2,000 UK parents of children under 16. The findings show that on average, parents upload 63 images to social media every month, with 59% of those being family-related. A significant proportion of parents—21%—share these photos multiple times a week, while 38% post several times a month. These frequent posts not only showcase images but also often contain sensitive data like location tags and key life events, making it easier for bad actors to build a detailed online profile of the child. Professor Maple warned that such oversharing can lead to long-term consequences. 

Aside from potential identity theft, children could face mental distress or reputational harm later in life from having a permanent digital footprint that they never consented to create. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many parents are unaware of how their data is being used. For instance, 48% of survey respondents did not realize that cloud storage providers can access the data stored on their platforms. In fact, more than half of the surveyed parents (56%) store family images on cloud services such as Google Drive or Apple iCloud. On average, each parent had 185 photos of their children stored digitally—images that may be accessed or analyzed under vaguely worded terms and conditions.  

Recent changes to Instagram’s user agreement, which now allows the platform to use uploaded images to train its AI systems, have further heightened privacy concerns. Additionally, experts have warned about the use of personal images by other Big Tech firms to enhance facial recognition algorithms and advertising models. To protect their children, parents are advised to implement a range of safety measures. These include using secure and private cloud storage, adjusting privacy settings on social platforms, avoiding public Wi-Fi when sharing or uploading data, and staying vigilant against phishing scams. 

Furthermore, experts recommend setting boundaries with children regarding online activity, using parental controls, antivirus tools, and search filters, and modeling responsible digital behavior. The growing accessibility of AI-based image manipulation tools underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and proactive digital hygiene. What may seem like harmless sharing today could expose children to significant risks in the future.
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Technology
AI Deepfakes Bangladesh Digital threats legislation Technology

Bangladesh’s Deepfake Challenge: Why New Laws Aren’t Enough

 


Bangladesh has taken a big step to protect its people online by introducing the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025. This law updates the country’s approach to digital threats, replacing the older and often criticized 2023 act. One of its most important changes is that it now includes crimes that involve artificial intelligence (AI). This makes Bangladesh the first South Asian country to legally address this issue, and it comes at a time when digital threats are growing quickly.

One of the most dangerous AI-related threats today is deepfakes. These are fake videos or audio recordings that seem completely real. They can be used to make it look like someone said or did something they never did. In other countries, such as the United States and Canada, deepfakes have already been used to mislead voters and damage reputations. Now, Bangladesh is facing a similar problem.

Recently, fake digital content targeting political leaders and well-known figures has been spreading online. These false clips spread faster than fact-checkers can respond. A few days ago, a government adviser warned that online attacks and misinformation are becoming more frequent as the country gets closer to another important election.

What makes this more worrying is how easy deepfake tools have become to access. In the past, only people with strong technical skills could create deepfakes. Today, almost anyone with internet access can do it. For example, a recent global investigation found that a Canadian hospital worker ran a large website full of deepfake videos. He had no special training, yet caused serious harm to innocent people.

Experts say deepfakes are successful not because people are foolish, but because they trick our emotions. When something online makes us feel angry or shocked, we’re more likely to believe it without questioning.

To fight this, Bangladesh needs more than new laws. People must also learn how to protect themselves. Schools should begin teaching students how to understand and question online content. Public campaigns should be launched across TV, newspapers, radio, and social media to teach people what deepfakes are and how to spot them.

Young volunteers can play a big role by spreading awareness in villages and small towns where digital knowledge is still limited. At the same time, universities and tech companies in Bangladesh should work together to create tools that can detect fake videos and audio clips. Journalists and social media influencers also need training so they don’t unknowingly spread false information.

AI can be used to create lies, but it can also help us find the truth. Still, the best defence is knowledge. When people know how to think critically and spot fake content, they become the strongest line of defence against digital threats.

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