House lawmakers urge top intel official to probe national security threat of doctored videos

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers are calling on the top U.S. intelligence official to assess the national security threats posed by doctored videos, warning that the manipulated materials could be used as a weapon against the U.S. by a hostile foreign nation. 

The lawmakers sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats on Thursday asking him to have the intelligence community examine the risks posed by “deep fake technology” to be examined and what potential damage could be incurred by such disinformation.

{mosads}“By blurring the line between fact and fiction, deep fake technology could undermine public trust in recorded images and videos as objective depictions of reality,” House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) wrote.

“As deep fake technology becomes more advanced and more accessible, it could pose a threat to United States public discourse and national security, with broad and concerning implications for offensive active measures campaigns targeting the United States,” they added.

The threat of doctored videos purporting to be real news clips drew national attention earlier this year after comedian Jordan Peele and BuzzFeed released a viral video that turned out to be a ruse. The video was manipulated to show former President Obama stating a number of controversial comments, but it was actually Peele speaking.

“This is a dangerous time,” Peele says in the video, while still imitating the ex-president. “Moving forward we need to be more vigilant with what we trust from the internet. It’s a time where we need to rely on trusted news sources.”

Schiff in the letter to Coates warned that foreign nations could use these types of “deep fakes” to hurt the U.S. by spreading false information, a concern that is heightened following the extensive disinformation campaigns carried out by the Russians during the 2016 presidential election.

“Deep fakes could become a potent tool for hostile powers seeking to spread misinformation. The first step to help prepare the Intelligence Community, and the nation, to respond effectively is to understand all we can about this emerging technology and what steps we can take to protect ourselves,” Schiff said in a statement.

Murphy, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, also said the intelligence community needs to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on deep fake technology so lawmakers know the risks it poses.

The letter comes after Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) began sounding the alarm about deep fake technology earlier this year.

During a Facebook and Twitter hearing last week, Warner voiced concern about such videos as compounding the ongoing fight to combat fake news online.