Deepfakes and the Deterioration of Digital Trust: Implications for Society, the Administration of Justice and Identity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

As society advances into the boundless realm of technological innovation, a novel digital-age phenomenon has surfaced, obscuring the boundaries between truth and fabrication as never before—the age of deepfakes. This captivating exploration of technology reveals a world where artificial intelligence (AI) animates deception, reshaping the very essence of authenticity and challenging our perceptions of reality. This digital-age phenomenon has encapsulated the tension between AI as a force for good and a potential source of harm. While AI promises transformative possibilities in enhancing communication, innovation, and efficiency, deepfakes exemplify its darker side, where technology fuels deception and manipulates authenticity. This apprehension brings us back to the persistent question: Is AI a boon or a bane? Is it contributing more to progress or peril? Is it fostering trust, or is it amplifying deception? The very technology that holds the potential to foster connection is simultaneously being weaponized to deceive, leaving us to grapple with whether AI is, in fact, advancing trust or impairing it. Today, the ease with which hyper-realistic images, audio, and video can be fabricated has made deepfakes a powerful yet dangerous tool, capable of facilitating crimes, tarnishing reputations, leading to wrongful convictions, eroding institutional trust, and threatening national security when misused. Within the criminal justice system also, they pose serious risks by obscuring the distinction between what is genuine and what is falsified. This paper will examine the multifaceted impacts of deepfakes on society, the administration of justice, and individual identity. The paper will also explore various regulatory mechanisms aimed at governing the creation, distribution, and misuse of deepfakes and will offer insights into navigating the complex challenges posed by deepfakes in the technological singularity era.