In the opening months of 2024, the world saw more video and audio deepfakes detected online than in all of 2023. This alarming surge was highlighted during an interview with a senior analyst from NTI SafeNet, who spoke with a St. Petersburg television channel. The expert, Igor Bederov, heads the H. Hunter Investigation Department and is a recognized market authority on deepfake trends.
Compared with 2022, the year 2023 saw a threefold rise in video deepfakes and an eightfold increase in audio deepfakes. Global records show just over half a million deepfakes detected in 2023, and officials note that the first part of 2024 has already surpassed that milestone. This rapid growth underscores how quickly deepfake production has scaled and how accessible it has become for a wide audience. According to Bederov, the rising availability of deepfake technology plays a significant role in its growing use in criminal activity.
To curb this trajectory, the expert argues for clear legal regulations governing the operation of neural network models. He also calls for tougher penalties for violations related to the processing of audio and visual information by developers and end users of artificial intelligence. The aim is to slow momentum and deter misuse while preserving legitimate innovation in the field.
Bederov warned that, with only a few years of development, deepfakes could reach a level of realism that makes them visually indistinguishable from genuine footage. In such a scenario, detection would rely on specialized artificial intelligence models rather than human inspection alone. This reality places a premium on robust verification methods and proactive industry standards to protect individuals and institutions from deception.
Recent observations in the United States mention the creation of AI-driven drones designed to track and locate people autonomously. This development highlights the broader spectrum of AI-enabled tools that can be repurposed for both protective and harmful ends, reinforcing the need for proactive governance, ethical guidelines, and strict oversight as technology matures in Canada and the United States and across other markets.
Across North America, experts emphasize the importance of public awareness and responsible usage of synthetic media. Educational campaigns, transparent reporting mechanisms, and collaboration with technology platforms are seen as essential components to reduce risk. Industry researchers advocate for standardized benchmarks to evaluate the authenticity of multimedia content, helping investigators, businesses, and consumers distinguish truth from fabrication in real time. The ongoing conversation focuses not only on enforcement but also on resilience—equipping people and organizations with tools to verify evidence, protect reputations, and maintain trust in digital communications. The broader takeaway is clear: as deepfake technology becomes more accessible, a coordinated approach combining policy, technology, and education is needed to safeguard the information ecosystem for audiences in Canada, the United States, and beyond.