Research On Forensic Investigation Of Ai-Generated Deepfake Videos, Audio, And Images In Criminal Proceedings
Case 1: UK Child Custody Deepfake Audio (2019–2020)
Facts:
In a UK family law dispute, a mother submitted an audio recording supposedly capturing the father making threats.
The father’s legal team claimed the recording had been manipulated using AI-based audio editing software.
Forensic Investigation:
Experts analyzed the audio file and found edits where words were inserted into the original recording.
Metadata analysis confirmed parts of the recording were created after the original call.
Comparison with the original recording helped isolate manipulated segments.
Legal Outcome:
The court dismissed the audio as credible evidence due to proven manipulation.
Highlighted the risk of AI-manipulated media being weaponized in family disputes.
Significance:
Demonstrated the need for forensic scrutiny of audio evidence in custody cases.
Set a precedent for courts considering the authenticity of AI-altered recordings.
Case 2: Maryland School Deepfake Audio (USA, 2025)
Facts:
A former high school athletics director generated a deepfake audio clip impersonating the school principal making offensive statements.
The clip was shared with students and staff, causing disruption.
Forensic Investigation:
Voice analysis and artifact detection identified the audio as AI-generated.
Investigators traced the dissemination to the accused’s devices and accounts.
Legal Outcome:
The accused entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor and received a jail sentence.
Significance:
First U.S. case demonstrating criminal prosecution for malicious deepfake audio.
Showed the role of forensic analysis in identifying AI-generated content in harassment cases.
Case 3: India – Celebrity Deepfake Video Complaints (2023)
Facts:
Deepfake videos depicting Indian celebrities in explicit content were circulated online.
Celebrities filed complaints under defamation and cybercrime statutes.
Forensic Investigation:
Experts examined visual artifacts, inconsistencies in motion, and video metadata.
Investigators traced the source accounts and hosting platforms.
Legal Outcome:
Law enforcement issued takedown notices and investigated content creators.
Charges included defamation, online harassment, and violations of the IT Act.
Significance:
Demonstrated the intersection of deepfake technology with reputational harm.
Emphasized the need for forensic methods to identify AI-manipulated images/videos.
Case 4: Dubai/UK Deepfake Audio Evidence (2020)
Facts:
In a cross-border custody dispute, a mother presented an audio recording of the father allegedly threatening her.
Forensic analysis suggested heavy editing and AI-assisted voice manipulation.
Forensic Investigation:
Metadata and file provenance analysis confirmed insertion of words not originally spoken.
Original recordings were compared to the submitted evidence, exposing the manipulation.
Legal Outcome:
The audio was ruled inadmissible due to unreliability.
Significance:
Early example of AI-manipulated audio in cross-jurisdictional litigation.
Underlined the importance of expert forensic testimony in deepfake-related disputes.
Case 5: India – Deepfake Investment Fraud
Facts:
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonated a financial advisor to promote fraudulent investment schemes.
Victims were deceived into transferring money based on the manipulated video.
Forensic Investigation:
Experts detected anomalies in the voice and video, confirming AI generation.
Investigators traced the video upload sources and linked them to fraudulent accounts.
Legal Outcome:
Perpetrators were charged under fraud and cybercrime statutes.
Some platforms were ordered to remove the content and freeze accounts involved in the scheme.
Significance:
Showed the use of deepfake media in economic crimes.
Highlighted the need for integrated forensic approaches analyzing video, audio, and financial traces.
Key Lessons Across Cases
Deepfake evidence can be highly deceptive, requiring forensic expertise for authentication.
Metadata, original source comparison, and AI artifact detection are crucial for investigation.
Legal systems are increasingly recognizing deepfake media as evidence that may need strict scrutiny.
Deepfakes are not just theoretical threats—they have been used in family disputes, harassment, defamation, and fraud.
Cross-border and online dissemination complicates both investigation and prosecution.
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