Tánaiste Simon Harris Watched Deepfake Videos of Himself Twice to Confirm Falsity
Tánaiste Simon Harris reported that convincing deepfake videos of him endorsing fraudulent investments required him to watch them twice to verify their falsity. Speaking at an anti-financial crime summit, he warned that deepfake technology threatens financial system integrity and called on tech companies to combat its spread.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris revealed that deepfake videos portraying him endorsing fraudulent investment products were so convincing he had to watch them twice to confirm they were not real. He shared this at the AML Intelligence European Anti-Financial Crime Summit in Dublin, highlighting that the evolution of financial crime, particularly deepfake technology, threatens the integrity of the financial system.
Harris stated he was a victim of this phenomenon, with a deepfake video circulating online falsely showing him promoting non-existent investment products. This occurred after his announcement of a State-run savings and investment scheme. Banking sector representatives alerted the Department of Finance to these videos. Harris emphasized that if even knowledgeable individuals need a second look, it underscores the quality of these AI-generated deepfakes, which are becoming harder to identify and easier to create.
He stressed the need for public awareness but placed responsibility on technology companies. Addressing tech giants in Ireland, Harris asserted they cannot disengage from this issue, as social media platforms enable such crime if they do not take strict action. He called for a European-level focus on examining the role of big tech companies in the spread of deepfakes, which he believes distort democracy and financial well-being. Patricia Dunne, a Central Bank of Ireland official, also noted that criminals are using advanced tools to deceive and bypass regulatory controls.