"From fake to deepfake": threats and risks of the development and diffusion of reality distortion technologies in the global information space

The article explores the social phenomenon of «fake news», analyzes the causes and sources of its occurrence, destructive side effects, ways and means of counteraction at the state level. Machine learning “deepfake” technologies, that allow using artificial intelligence to create visually “reliable” photos and videos, which are not amenable to any modern expertise, are considered as a continuation of the developing trend of thrusting inaccurate “fake” information, performed at a completely new technical level. The authors make forecasts of threats and risks of a global nature that will inevitably follow in the absence of proper control over the application of the capabilities of advanced information technologies.