A few months ago, the IRS made me verify my identity using some janky video conferencing software where I had to hold up a copy of my passport. The software was so hard to use, that I can't believe average people manage to do it. Now, real-time deep fakes are literally easier to create than using the video verification software itself. This will have interesting societal implications.
In India, Digital Signature issuing companies use webcam video to authenticate the applicant as well(I don't think even holding document is required); That digital-sign is used everywhere from signing tax filing to paying taxes.
I hope deep-fake detection software can compete with deep-fake generation software, I've been tracking this need-gap on my problem validation forum for a while now[1].
That said, There are ethical usages of deep-fake videos as well; In fact I might checkout this very tool to see if I can use it for 'smiling more in the videos', remembering to smile during videos is exhaustive for me. There are other ethical usages like limiting the physical effort needed to produce video content for those with disability(like myself)[2].
I mistyped my SSN this year and I wound up doing something similar: I had to take off my glasses and hold my face exactly in the center of the camera, while repeatedly squinting (hopelessly) to try and read the error messages as they alternated between "TOO CLOSE" and "TOO FAR AWAY". I gave up and, luckily, a few hours later found the mistake.
