Tech & IT
From AI-generated soft porn to voice cloning, here’s how technology is being used as a tool for scams
In the last 10 years, technology has made such huge advances that it is hard to imagine life without it. By looking around, there are plenty of examples of how it has made life easier. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are being used to make processes simpler and allow us to do more things at once. However, with the increased usage of technology, the amount of frauds has also increased.
Have you heard of or even experienced any type of scam? Common ones include password phishing emails and spoof websites, but with AI, the scams become more dangerous. Although these cases may sound like something out of a movie, they are real and people have suffered from them. Let’s take a look at some examples.
Voice Cloning
If you weren’t aware that it was a scammer posing as your boss, you might transfer the funds without questioning it. However, it is important to be aware of potential scams, as they may not be who they say they are.
In 2019, a British energy company fell victim to a scammer posing as a German executive, resulting in the transfer of around $240,000 to an unknown bank account.
It is believed that the scammers utilized AI software to replicate the voice of the German executive, including their unique prosody and accent, based on a few audio recordings. Although this is not a widely used scamming tactic, it can be expected that it will become more common as AI software becomes more accessible and does not take a lot of resources or time to utilize.
Deep Fakes
A video of Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelesky asking the army to lay down their weapons during the Russia and Ukraine war circulated on social media, but it was quickly debunked and removed from a Ukrainian news website by hackers when the entire country was under the attack of Russian troops.
Thanks to deep fakes, a combination of voice cloning and AI-generated videos, criminals can create compromising videos of victims to blackmail them, as well as videos asking families to transfer money. This technique is used widely by criminals who use readily-available selfies and personal images from the internet.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to detect the deep fakes created by criminals; they even possess the proficiency to deceive facial recognition software.
Recruitment fraud
As more of the world has gone digital, it is now commonplace to find job postings online. Unfortunately, this has also opened the door for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting people and steal their money
People are tricked into giving away their data and personal information in exchange for money when scammers post job openings online. Those looking for employment are asked to transfer money in order to secure the job, with a promise that it will be returned when they start working. This not only applies to full-time jobs, but part-time positions as well.
Fake Images
AI has made fake images or morphed images worse than they had been in the past, similar to the deep fakes. Lensa AI, for example, can produce non-consensual soft porn images when provoked, and it can be trained to create photos like sketches, cartoons, animes, and watercolors. This means that if an image with a different body and face is fed into the application, it will automatically generate a new image.
It is always advisable to double check the source of any sites, emails or messages before taking action, despite the benefits of AI. This is just one example; there are many other applications utilized by scammers for producing images for the purpose of blackmailing their victims.
Tech & IT
Metaverse Sex: Revolutionizing Intimacy in a Decade
VR to Transform Adult Entertainment with Metaverse Sex in 10 Years
Highlights:
- VR sex replaces porn apps in a decade
- Multi-sensory VR includes touch, smell
- Ethical concerns in virtual consent
- Metaverse allows global virtual encounters
- Shift could aid lonely individuals
According to Sam Hall, managing director of Mixed Reality Rooms, the world of adult entertainment is poised for a transformative shift in the next decade. Hall envisions a future where traditional porn apps and websites are replaced by immersive experiences in the metaverse, enabled by advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology.
This evolution, he predicts, will be driven by the increasing accessibility of VR headsets, paving the way for a new normal in adult entertainment. The introduction of multi-sensory VR, including technologies that simulate touch, smell, and taste, is expected to create experiences that closely mimic real-life interactions. Hall foresees a significant role for connected sex toys, utilizing haptic technology to enhance the virtual experience.
However, this technological leap is not without its challenges. Hall raises critical ethical concerns, particularly around consent in the virtual realm. The use of personal images and virtual avatars without consent poses a significant risk, echoing apprehensions noted in a 2017 report about VR porn’s impact on sexual expectations and potential for abuse.
Despite these concerns, the potential of the metaverse extends beyond just entertainment. Hall suggests that it could democratize sexual experiences, providing new opportunities for those who may find it challenging to find partners in the real world. This virtual world, limitless in its scope, allows individuals to express their desires in diverse settings, real or fictional, private or public.
The integration of VR technology with sexual wellness hardware is still in its nascent stages, but Hall notes that it’s only a matter of time before these technologies fully converge. He points out that people are already exploring romantic connections in virtual spaces, hinting at the future of relationships and intimacy.
As we stand on the brink of this new era, the questions of how quickly these changes will materialize and how they will reshape our understanding of human intimacy remain open. What is clear, however, is that the metaverse is set to redefine the landscape of adult entertainment, offering unprecedented experiences while challenging our conventional notions of consent and connection.
Latest News
Omegle Shuts Down After Child Safety and Legal Challenges
Omegle, a platform for video chatting with strangers, has shut down following numerous child abuse allegations and lawsuits. Over a decade, it linked children with predators, prompting legal scrutiny. Founder Leif K-Brooks, under pressure, cites the challenge of moderating content as a key reason for the shutdown.
Highlights:
- Omegle shuts down following child safety issues.
- Platform linked minors with predators for years.
- High CSAM reports exceed other social platforms.
- Founder Leif K-Brooks announces app closure.
- Legal challenges question Section 230’s scope.
- Calls for systemic online child protection.
Omegle, once a popular platform for connecting strangers through video chat, has officially shut down. Known for its tagline “Talk To Strangers,” Omegle became a concerning destination for minors, leading to its closure last Thursday. This decision comes after more than a decade of the platform inadvertently facilitating connections between children and predators, which led to multiple lawsuits and criminal investigations.
The platform has been embroiled in several child grooming cases. One notable incident involved a Norwegian teenager who met a predator on Omegle at the age of 14, leading to her abuse. In 2022, an FBI investigation uncovered a user sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) acquired through Omegle. The perpetrator was sentenced to 42 months in prison. That year, Omegle reported over half a million CSAM cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a figure higher than those reported by other major platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord.
Founder Leif K-Brooks announced the shutdown, highlighting the intensive content moderation efforts Omegle had undertaken. Despite these efforts, Brooks admitted the platform was misused for heinous crimes. The stress and financial burden of managing the site’s content were significant factors in his decision.
A pivotal lawsuit contributing to Omegle’s downfall involved a 13-year-old identified as C.H. She alleged that at the age of 11, she was coerced into sexual acts by predators she met on Omegle. Her case, which bypassed the protections typically afforded to tech companies under Section 230, highlighted the platform’s inability to safeguard young users effectively.
Despite Omegle’s attempts to combat child exploitation, including the use of AI and human moderators, critics argued that these measures were insufficient. The Canadian Center for Child Protection pointed out the inadequacy of Omegle’s age verification process, which merely required users to confirm they were 18 years old. Disturbingly, conversations and videos discovered on dark web forums indicated that predators had used Omegle to target and exploit children.
The closure of Omegle reflects a growing awareness and intolerance of platforms that fail to protect children from online sexual exploitation. While Omegle’s shutdown is a significant step, it highlights the broader issue of child safety on the internet, underscoring the need for more stringent regulations and proactive measures across all online platforms.
Source: Forbes
Tech & IT
Meta Shifts Age Verification Duty to Google and Apple App Stores
In a recent statement, Meta proposed that Google and Apple’s App Stores should take on the responsibility of online age verification for their apps. This move comes amidst increasing pressure for Meta to implement stringent age controls and parental consent mechanisms to safeguard younger users. The company’s head of global safety argued that the varied verification methods across U.S. states make it impractical for social media apps to manage this process uniformly.
Highlights:
- Meta rejects app age verification role.
- Suggests App Stores handle age checks.
- Focus on parental consent, safety.
- U.S. state laws vary in verification.
Meta, a leading technology company, recently emphasized its stance on not participating in online age verification for its applications. Instead, it suggested that this responsibility should be managed by the App Stores of Google and Apple. This position was clarified in a post by the company’s head of global safety and security.
This suggestion arises amidst growing discussions about implementing effective age controls and requiring parental consent for young users on Meta platforms. The company’s safety head stated that Meta is not willing to take on this responsibility, citing the inconsistency of verification methods across different U.S. states. Such disparities make it challenging for social media applications to uniformly implement age verification.
Consequently, Meta proposes that parents should be the ones giving permission for their children to use apps through Google Play and the Apple App Store. In this system, when a teenager attempts to install an app, a notification would be sent to their parents for approval. This approach is similar to how parents are alerted about in-app purchases. If a parent approves, the child can install and use the app; otherwise, the installation is blocked.
Furthermore, Meta suggests that age verification could be conducted during the initial setup of a child’s device, allowing parents to set age restrictions once, rather than repeatedly responding to alerts or approval requests.
Meta strongly supports legislation that mandates parental approval for users under 16. The company commits to developing features and settings to facilitate parental assistance in app usage by children.
Currently, there are no widespread regulations specifically mandating online age verification in app stores. However, some states, such as Louisiana, are enacting their own laws. These laws require users to verify their age through government-issued IDs to access certain websites. Utah, for instance, recently passed legislation requiring parental approval for children signing up on various online platforms, including Facebook.
As more states introduce age verification laws, discussions about extending these methods to other online applications are intensifying. Lawmakers are exploring new legislation aimed at expanding internet access regulation and enhancing safety measures for broader audiences, especially younger users.
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