The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) facilitated the creation of text, audio clips, videos and hyper-realistic images but entirely manufactured, commonly called “Deep in depths. “The emergence of Deepfake technology has provided malware a powerful tool for spreading propaganda, disseminating disinformation, a prejudicial reputation, manipulating the perception of the public and eroding confidence in institutions.
In the case of Taiwan, Deepfake technology is also used for malicious purposes: including political manipulation and reputation damage, both by independent malicious actors and groups sponsored by the State. Consequently, this study examines how Deepfake technology was used by these actors in Taiwan, providing specific examples to illustrate its impact.
What is a deep and how to make it a
Recent progress in artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in the development of algorithms capable of generating highly realistic synthetic images, videos, audio and text. Among these innovations, Deepfake technology is particularly remarkable. Although the definitions can vary, Deepfakes generally refers to the media generated by AI which manipulate the perceived reality by using in -depth learning techniques to manufacture events, declarations or actions. (1) The creation of Fake Deep often rests on generative opponents (GAN), which include two networks of neurons: a generator that creates synthetic content, and a discriminator who assesses and refines it until the difference between the real and false content becomes almost indistinguishable. (2)
Originally developed for entertainment and creative applications, Deepfake technology is increasingly used for misleading purposes. With the growing accessibility of Deepfake tools such as Fakeapp And Nakedmalicious actors can now easily generate a very convincing false content that poses significant risks Damage to reputation, disinformation and manipulation.
How malicious actors use deep buttocks
Many university studies indicate that malicious actors frequently exploit Deepfake technology to create non -consensual videos and sexual images. According to a report,, 95,820 Sexually explicit Deepfake videos circulated on the Internet in 2023. These Deepfake videos are extremely popular on the Internet, having collected approximately 134 million Views. Likewise, a van der Nagel study affirmation This 96% of images, videos and Deepfake content consists of non -consensual pornographic equipment.
In recent years, South Korea and the United States, as well as many other countries, have experienced a significant increase in deep sexual content scattered by malicious internet actors and social media platforms such as Telegramoften without the consent of the victims. More than one in ten students in the The United States said they had known Friends or classmates who use Deepfake technology to create sexually explicit images of other students. For example, in the United States, a high school student was the victim of deep pornography created by her classmates Nudification application called “ClothoffAnd the manipulated video was then shared on Snapchat and Instagram. Likewise, a notable case involved a high school teacher in Busan, South Koreawhose face was bunk on explicit images and shared in a telegram group with 1,200 members under the hashtag “shame on your teacher”.
Beyond its use in non-consensual pornography, Deepfake technology is increasingly exploited for fraudulent activities. Thousands of people have been deceived by Deepfake content featuring similarities made of well -known figures, especially Elon Musk And Brad Pitt. At the beginning of 2024, the British Engineering Company Arup became a victim of a Deepfake fraud regime, resulting in financial loss of approximately 25 million USD.
Deepfake manipulative content involving political figures represents another area where malicious actors frequently exploit this technology. For example, politicians Pakistan,, SlovakiaAnd Türkiye were targeted with Deepfake content designed to manipulate the perception of the public. In 2024, more than 30 high level British politicians have been targeted with Deepfake technology, with their images downloaded on a sexually explicit website before the British general elections. Likewise, a Deepfake video wrongly saying that The wife of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy Bought a luxury car during its visit to Paris in June 2024 was broadcast on social networks. Shared by pro-Russian influencers, the video collected nearly 18 million views within 24 hours. In addition, in March 2025, a Fraudulent Deepfake Video of the Indonesian President Prabowo SUBIANTO was broadcast through at least 22 different Tiktok accounts, by deceiving thousands of viewers.
Image: Fixed images of a made video published on YouTube in the perspective of the Taiwan elections in January 2024, which presented declarations falsely attributed to the candidate of the presidency of the time, Lai Ching-te. (Image source: Taiwan Factcheck Center))
Use of Deepfake technology for malicious purposes in Taiwan
With the rise of Deepfake technology, Taiwan has encountered challenges similar to those facing many other countries. Deepfake content has caused significant consequences, including disinformation, handling political discourse and privacy violations.
The first major problem is the use of Deepfake technology for political manipulation. During and after The Taiwanese presidential election of 2024, there was an increase in disinformation campaigns motivated by Deepfake technology, which presented videos made and handled audio clips intended to discredit political figures. For example, Deepfake Videos falsely accused the leaders of the Progressive Democratic Power Party (DPP, 民進黨) of corruptionAnd aimed to undermine the credibility of the presidential candidate of the Lai Ching-Te (賴清德) party by making a private conversation Between Lai and the president of the Tsai Ing-Wen period (蔡英文)) Use of Deepfake technology generated by AI-AI. Furthermore, Sexually explicit Deepfake videos Presenting certain political figures were broadcast to damage their reputation further. These examples highlight the growing impact of deep technology on electoral interference, where the synthetic media are used to influence public opinion, inflict damage to reputation and disrupt democratic processes in Taiwan.
The false and deceptive content generated using Deepfake technology has also targeted the Taiwanese soldiers. For example, the texts manufactured created with Deepfake technology have been broadcast on the Internet and social media platforms to disseminate false and misleading information on the Taiwanese soldiers.
In addition to disinformation targeting Taiwanese policy, political figures and soldiers, Taiwan has also experienced the malicious use of deep technology for personal attacks. YouTuber Chu Yu-Chen (朱玉宸)Who used Deepfake technology to superimpose the faces of women with pornographic videos for profit, serves as a particularly alarming example. Despite more than 100 victims that are manifested, legal loopholes initially allowed him to escape serious sanctions. This case prompted Taiwanese legislators to present New legislation in 2023Explicitly criminalizing the sexual imagery generated by the Folualities and the strengthening of protections for victims of privacy violations led by AI. In addition, the case of Robert Tsao (曹興誠))A businessman who has been targeted with sexual images generated by Deepfake, serves as an important example of how Deep Fake technology can be armed to damage reputation and inflict emotional distress.
Beyond these individual cases, Taiwan was at the forefront of efforts to fight against disinformation and cyber attacks linked to deep fake, in particular in the context of cross tensions. The reports indicate that foreign actors, in particular from China, exploited Media generated by AI for SAPER TAIWANPolitical stability, erodes confidence in its institutions and weakens the army. Given the strategic geopolitical position of Taiwan and its vulnerability to disinformation campaigns, the government has worked in close collaboration with social media platforms, Organizations for verification of civil society facts and groups To slow down the spread of disinformation linked to Fake. Despite these efforts, the rapid development of Deepfake technology continues to present challenges, highlighting the need for continuous legal, technological and political responses.
Taiwan’s experience shows how manipulated Deepfake technology can be handled for a range of harmful ends, including electoral interference, reputation damage and confidentiality violations. Although legislative measures and digital literacy initiatives have been introduced to counter these threats, the growing accessibility of the tools fueled by AI requires an effort to collaborate between governments, technological companies and civil society to effectively approach the abusive climbing of Deepfake technology. In addition, Taiwan could take advantage of its existing scientific and technological cooperation with The United States,, Australia,, Canada,, France And Germany Work on the search for collaborative solutions to tackle the problem of Deepfakes on a global scale.
The main point: Deepfake technology was used with maliciousness for political manipulation, disinformation and reputation damage. In Taiwan, Deepfakes was used in the interference of the elections, the attacks on political figures and the military, as well as violations of privacy. To counter these threats, there must be a collaboration between the government, technological companies and civil society – in addition to international partnerships.
(1) Mary Ellen Bates, “say what?” Deepfakes “are deeply worrying”, ” Online researcher 42, no. 4 (2018): 64.
(2) Ahmet Yiğitalp Tulga, “a complete analysis of trends in public speech and content in Turkish Reddit articles linked to Deepfake”, ” Journal of Global and Area Studies 8, no. 2 (2024): 257-276.