Origins and Ethics of Deepfakes

This unit introduces students to the technical evolution, social dynamics, and ethical issues surrounding deepfakes and other synthetic media. Through narrative case studies and a chronological survey from analog deception to the current industrial era, students build a foundation in how manipulated media spreads, why it matters for business and law, and what questions later units will address about policy and mitigation.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the historical progression of deceptive media from the analog era through the current industrial era and summarize key technological milestones that enabled modern deepfakes
• Evaluate the ethical and business implications of viral and real-time deepfakes for organizations and stakeholders, citing specific case-study lessons from the unit
• Demonstrate the ability to identify common characteristics, sources, and distribution vectors of manipulated media in narrative and real-time scenarios
• Apply trends from past eras and recent viral incidents to predict near-term developments and propose foundational strategies organizations can use to prepare for legal and managerial responses