Are Deepfake Videos a Threat to Democracy?

Every day, we see—and create!—countless images and videos that have been edited or digitally altered. From simple Snapchat filters to short, lighthearted, or ironic TikTok videos, it's clear that seeing and creating altered media is just part of online life today. But are you aware of—or have you thought deeply about—the rise of deepfake videos? The thing that makes deepfakes different is that they're created almost entirely with artificial intelligence, or "AI." This technology is advancing quickly, and some experts believe that many of these fakes will soon be nearly invisible to the human eye.

Use this lesson plan to have your students consider how AI technology and deepfakes could subvert or threaten a democratic election.