The UAE wants to help members of the public spot deepfakes, in which images or video are manipulated to fool the viewer.
The National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and the Council for Digital Wellbeing published a guide to raise awareness on both the harmful and useful applications of deepfake technologies.
It also tells people how to report them to the appropriate authorities.
Deepfakes use a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to manipulate images or video. This can create fake events that may seem very real. The availability of large amounts of data in the form of pictures and videos has allowed AI systems to be trained to create better deepfakes. As they have become easier to produce, the potential for their misuse has grown.
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, emphasised that it is "imperative to focus on the positive and beneficial uses of advanced technologies" and to "raise community members’ awareness on their potential and diverse applications".
The UAE's Deepfake Guide aims to help individuals better understand the technology and to provide guidance on healthy tech habits.
Deepfakes for good
Examples of deepfakes used for good do exist in some industries.
The guide lists medical applications, such as to generate new MRI images for training purposes. Synthesised audio deepfakes may be of use for someone who has lost the ability to speak due to cancer and other medical conditions that affect the vocal cords.
In the film and advertising industries, deepfakes may be used to enhance content, provide a news broadcast virtually or to create special effects. Customer service is also a growing venue for deepfakes with the use of virtual assistants at call centres.
Are deepfakes ever illegal?
While there are 'good' examples, the technology is most often associated with bad actors.
The guide emphasises "it is important to note that deepfakes cannot be categorised as good or bad. Deepfakes are merely a tool that can be used for different purposes".
They may, however, affect reputations and the national interest. Existing UAE laws "prohibit cyberbullying, actual malice and identity impersonation".
A deepfake's capacity to "influence communities" is of particular concern as it relates to public opinion. They may also "impose a reputational threat to nations as well as cause disruptions to international and diplomatic relations if not verified promptly by concerned governments", according to the guide.
How can I spot a deepfake?
The guide advises that it is "possible for a human eye to detect signs that suggest whether a video content is forged or not".
There are six things to look out for:
1. "Irregular" or "disorganised" facial movements of the subject
2. Variations or sudden changes in lighting
3. If skin tone changes during the clip
4. "Repetitive blinking or no blinking at all"
5. Make sure the audio matches the speaker's lip movements. A mismatch often signals the media has been manipulated
6. "Distortion" around the speaker's face
It is possible to detect a deepfake yourself, but as the technology improves this will get more and more difficult. In time, the only way to root out the fake from the real will be with AI.
The UAE council has already found that an alternative technology is the best method of detecting the manipulated images. It said: "The most accurate approach to detect forged contents is through a systematic screening of the deepfakes using AI-based tools that need to be regularly updated."
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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