A suspicious deepfake: verify before sharing or responding

Synthetic media can be convincing and visual clues are unreliable. Verify the source and contact people through a separate trusted channel.

Adapted from a guide first written for Quebec readers: passages specific to Quebec were removed. Rules in your province may differ.

A deepfake is audio, video or an image that has been digitally manipulated or generated to appear authentic. There may be no obvious visual glitch, and ordinary compression can create misleading artifacts. Treat appearance as a clue, not proof.

Check before acting

• Look for the original post, full recording, date and context; compare with reputable independent reporting.
• Search key frames or distinctive phrases to see whether older footage is being recirculated.
• If a voice message asks for money, passwords or secrecy, call the person back using a number you already trust.
• Do not forward intimate or humiliating synthetic material. Preserve the URL and relevant evidence, then report it to the platform.
• If it involves threats, extortion or immediate danger, contact police; do not negotiate or send money without getting help.

AI tools may assist with analysis, but a detector can be wrong and metadata can be stripped. A careful conclusion may be “unverified” rather than real or fake. Avoid naming or accusing a person based only on an automated score.

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security: deepfakes and verification · Version française →

Sources and limits

Source: Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, misinformation and deepfake guidance. Visual inspection or automated detection alone cannot establish authenticity.

General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting.